In consultation with Russia, the US is secretly developing a new plan to end the war in Ukraine / What it contains

Putin's emissary Kirill Dmitriev expressed optimism about the deal's chances of success because, unlike previous efforts, “we feel that Russia's position is really being listened to,” writes the US website Axios.

The Trump administration is secretly working in consultation with Russia on a new plan to end the war in Ukraine, US and Russian officials told Axios.

The 28-point US plan is inspired by President Donald Trump's efforts to reach a deal in Gaza. A senior Russian official told Axios that he was optimistic about the plan.

However, it is not clear what will be the reaction of Ukraine and its European supporters.

The plan's 28 points fall into four broad categories, multiple sources told Axios: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine.

It is unclear how the plan addresses contentious issues such as territorial control in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are slowly advancing but do not control all the territory the Kremlin wants.

“We feel that Russia's position is really being heard”

Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is coordinating the development of the plan and has discussed it extensively with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a US official said.

Dmitriev said in an interview with Axios on Monday that he spent three days in talks with Witkoff and other members of Trump's team when he was in Miami from Oct. 24-26.

Dmitriev expressed optimism about the deal's chances of success because, unlike previous efforts, “we feel that Russia's position is really being heard.”

Meanwhile, Witkoff was due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey on Wednesday, but it is unclear whether he will make it, Ukrainian and US officials said.

Witkoff discussed the plan with Zelenskiy's national security adviser Rustem Umerov in a meeting earlier this week in Miami, a Ukrainian official confirmed to Axios. “We know the Americans are working on something,” the Ukrainian official said.

The American side is optimistic about a peace agreement.

“President Trump believes there is a chance to end this senseless war if he shows flexibility,” a White House official told Axios.

US explains plan's “benefits” to Ukrainians and Europeans

Dmitriev told Axios that the basic idea was to take the principles agreed upon by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August and craft a proposal “to address the conflict in Ukraine, but also to restore US-Russian relations (and) address Russia's security concerns.”

“It's actually a much broader framework that basically says, 'How can we finally bring sustainable security to Europe, not just Ukraine,'” he said.

The goal is to draft a written document to that effect before the next meeting between Trump and Putin, according to Dmitriev. Plans for a summit in Budapest between the two leaders remain on hold for now.

Dmitriev said the effort had nothing to do with the UK-led initiative to draw up a peace plan for Ukraine similar to the one for Gaza, which he said had no chance of success because it did not take into account Russia's positions.

The Russian envoy said the US side is currently in the process of explaining the “benefits” of its current approach to Ukrainians and Europeans.

“This comes against the backdrop of additional successes by Russia on the battlefield,” he added, arguing that Moscow's influence is growing.

The US official confirmed that the White House has begun briefing European officials on the new plan.

The official said the Trump administration believes there is a real chance to win the support of the Ukrainians and Europeans, and said the plan will be tailored based on input from various parties.

“We think the timing is right for this plan. But both sides have to be practical and realistic,” the US official said.