Ukraine is preparing for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the United States in November to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and finalize key elements of a revised peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov announced on Tuesday.

Umerov’s statement follows U.S. media reports suggesting that Zelensky could travel to Washington as early as this week for high-level discussions. “We look forward to organizing a visit of Ukraine's president to the U.S. at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump,” Umerov said on social media.

The original 28-point proposal was reportedly condensed to 19 points after intensive consultations between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Geneva on Nov. 23. Zelensky later confirmed the streamlining of the plan, saying the updated version better reflects Ukraine’s needs. He added that particularly sensitive issues will be discussed directly with Trump.

Delegations in Geneva—led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak—described the talks as “productive” and agreed to continue working on an “updated and refined peace framework,” though they avoided disclosing specifics.

The initial peace plan triggered strong backlash from European governments and U.S. lawmakers, particularly over proposed concessions deemed unacceptable by Kyiv’s allies. These reported terms included a full withdrawal from the Donbas region, scaling down Ukraine’s military to 600,000 troops, and abandoning its NATO ambitions.

While Trump previously said he expected Ukraine to approve the plan by Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), Rubio later indicated the deadline may shift as negotiations progress.

After criticizing Kyiv on Nov. 23 for what he called insufficient gratitude toward U.S. mediation efforts, Trump softened his tone the next day. “Is it really possible that big progress is being made in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine? … Something good just may be happening,” he posted on Truth Social.

A senior U.S. official told the Washington Post that Trump has not been deeply involved in the technical aspects of the peace plan, adding that “even different parts of the White House don't know what's going on.”

Zelensky stated on Nov. 24 that Ukraine is coordinating closely with the U.S. and European partners to ensure the final plan includes critical humanitarian priorities—specifically an “all-for-all” prisoner exchange and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia.

Speaking via video at the Fourth Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform in Stockholm, the Ukrainian leader thanked European partners for their support and urged them to maintain pressure during negotiations.

The U.K., Germany, and France have reportedly proposed alternative ideas aimed at counterbalancing some of the most controversial elements in the American plan.

“Borders cannot be changed by force. Criminals must not remain unpunished. They must answer for the war they started,” Zelensky said, referring to continuing media speculation and political pressures surrounding the peace framework.

The timetable for Zelensky’s Washington visit has not yet been finalized, but officials on both sides say efforts are accelerating as negotiators work toward a mutually acceptable draft. (ILKHA)