Lavrov: Washington Fails to Officially Submit Ukraine Peace Plan with 28 Points to Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia expects the United States to share a copy of its Ukraine peace plan once Washington finalizes it with Europe and Ukraine. But Moscow is already pushing back on what it calls a "temporary" proposal, demanding that key agreements between Russian and American presidents from their Alaska meeting remain part of any final deal.

The diplomatic dance around Ukraine peace talks is getting more complex. Lavrov told Bloomberg that Russia won't accept any plan that erases "the text and spirit" of commitments made during high-level talks between the two presidents. He also pointed out that the US hasn't even officially delivered the original 28-point plan to Russia yet.

Here's where it gets interesting: US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with Russian officials for several hours on Tuesday. Driscoll joined the American negotiating team less than two weeks ago and is now leading the final phase of talks about a potential peace plan with Russia.

An American official, speaking anonymously about sensitive discussions, confirmed that Ukrainian officials knew about the meeting. The official wouldn't share details about how long negotiations might take or what specific topics are on the table. But they did say all parties want to reach a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible.

This puts the Biden administration in a tricky spot. They need to balance Ukraine's demands for security guarantees with Russia's insistence on keeping previous bilateral commitments intact. The fact that Russia considers the current US proposal "temporary" suggests Moscow expects significant changes before any final agreement.

For markets watching geopolitical risks, these talks represent a potential turning point. Energy prices and European defense spending could shift dramatically depending on whether these negotiations produce a lasting ceasefire or collapse entirely. The involvement of a senior Pentagon official like Driscoll also signals the US is taking these discussions seriously, even as fighting continues on the ground.

The timeline remains unclear, but the urgency from all sides suggests we could see major developments in the coming weeks.