WASHINGTON — The White House’s upbeat tone on Ukraine negotiations this week is intentional, according to sources familiar with the matter. Officials say the administration’s public optimism surrounding a fluid 19‑point plan is meant to apply maximum pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow to stay engaged in the talks.
The Trump administration is working to capitalize on momentum from recent discussions with Ukrainian and Russian representatives. The goal, sources explained, is to push Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin toward an initial ceasefire agreement. By projecting confidence, one source noted, the administration hopes to raise the stakes publicly, making it more difficult for either side to walk away.
“We’re getting very close to a deal,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday, echoing the positive outlook shared by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Still, officials acknowledge that significant hurdles remain. Talks in Geneva on Sunday with Ukrainian negotiators produced agreement on the broad outlines of the revised 19‑point plan, which was pared down from an earlier 28‑point version. Yet sources declined to specify which issues remain unresolved, noting that several sticking points continue to block a final accord.
The central question is whether Russia will agree to meaningful concessions beyond those in the original proposal. That earlier draft was widely criticized by U.S. lawmakers, Ukrainian officials, and European allies as being too favorable to Moscow.
To maintain momentum, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been dispatched to Abu Dhabi for meetings with Russian officials. His task is to work through the remaining details and bring both sides closer to a potential agreement.