Ukraine agrees to peace deal with Russia, 'minor details' to be worked out: Report

Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal with Russia, with only “minor details” remaining to be finalised, according to a CNN report, citing a US official, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that further work was still needed.

The comments came as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held meetings in Abu Dhabi with Russian officials regarding a proposal from the Trump administration.

“The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal,” CNN quoted the US official as saying.

Meanwhile, the White House on Tuesday said the US has made “tremendous progress” toward a peace deal with Ukraine and Russia, but some sensitive details will require additional talks.

“There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in an X post.

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Ukraine’s national security secretary, Rustem Umerov, also posted on X that the delegations had “reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva.”

He added, “We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps”, and noted that Ukraine looks forward to arranging a visit by Zelenskyy to the US to “complete final steps and make a deal with President (Donald) Trump.”

Earlier, Zelenskyy wrote on X, “Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead.”

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Abu Dhabi talks ‘going well’

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesperson for Driscoll, said the US-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi “are going well and we remain optimistic.”

“Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House…as these talks progress,” said Lt. Col. Tolbert.

The specifics of the discussions were not immediately clear, and the members of the Russian delegation have not been disclosed.

A US official said Driscoll, who has become a key figure in US diplomatic efforts on Ukraine, was also expected to meet with Ukrainian officials while in Abu Dhabi, reported Reuters.

Geneva talks

On Sunday, representatives from the US, Ukraine, and Europe met in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss ending the over three-and-a-half-year war.

On late Monday, Zelenskyy said the plan now has “fewer points” and “many of the right elements” following negotiations. He said hat there is still work to do to finalise the document.

The original draft reportedly required Ukraine to surrender additional territory to Russia, limit its military size, and abandon Nato membership.

The initial plan reportedly included a clause limiting the Ukrainian army to 600,000. However, following the Geneva meeting, Kyiv increased it to 800,000, the Financial Times reported, citing Ukrainian officials.

Officials also noted that the latest draft is “less favourable” for Russia and that sensitive issues such as territorial disputes and US security guarantees will be decided by US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy.

With inputs from agencies