The Washington Initiative: Inside the US-Led Plan for Ukraine Peace

A new, Washington-led initiative is underway to bring peace to Ukraine, centered on a direct meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. The White House has taken the lead in brokering this summit, positioning the U.S. as the central mediator in the conflict.
The initiative began with a series of meetings in Washington, where President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European allies. This was followed by a crucial phone call between Trump and Russian President Putin, which the White House claims resulted in Putin’s agreement to meet Zelenskyy within two weeks.
Now, the focus is on implementation. The U.S. is working with both Kyiv and Moscow to arrange the logistics. However, the plan faces hurdles, as Russia has not publicly committed to the accelerated timeline, instead calling for a more deliberate and thorough preparatory process.
The substance of the initiative is also taking shape. The summit’s main agenda item would be the territorial dispute, a topic Zelenskyy wants to discuss directly with Putin. A separate track involves allies, including NATO, working to define security guarantees for Ukraine’s future, a plan to which the U.S. might contribute air power.