A high-level US military delegation, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to engage in discussions aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The delegation, which includes top US Army officials such as Chief of Staff Gen Randy George and Europe’s top commander Gen Chris Donahue, is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday following his return from Turkey. The visit underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to exploring avenues for peace amidst escalating violence. Earlier in the day, a Russian missile and drone attack on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil claimed at least 26 lives, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Army spokesman Col David Butler stated that the delegation’s mission is to gather facts and discuss strategies to bring the war to a close. Reports have emerged suggesting that the US and Russia have privately drafted a 28-point peace plan, which reportedly includes significant concessions from Ukraine, though neither Washington nor Moscow has officially confirmed its existence. Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, who met with Driscoll, emphasized the focus on implementing defence agreements reached between Presidents Zelensky and Trump. Shmyhal also expressed gratitude for the US approval of a $105 million support package for Ukraine’s PATRIOT air-defence system. While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the reports, citing the ‘spirit of Anchorage’ from the August summit between Putin and Trump, President Zelensky has consistently rejected any territorial concessions. The talks come as Kyiv and its Western allies push for an immediate ceasefire, though Moscow remains steadfast in its demands, which Ukraine views as tantamount to capitulation.