A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States on Jan. 17, 2026, for discussions on postwar security guarantees and economic recovery, hours after Russian strikes again targeted the country’s power grid in subzero temperatures.
Kyrylo Budanov said in a Telegram post that he had come to work on “the details of the peace agreement,” traveling with negotiators Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamia for meetings with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the goal is to finalize documents with U.S. officials that set out a proposed settlement’s security architecture and a path for economic recovery. If the American side approves, Ukraine and the United States could sign the texts next week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, a venue where President Donald Trump is also expected. Zelenskyy added that Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals.
Delegation’s agenda and process
Ukrainian officials described the agenda as technical and focused on how long-term aid, training and defensive capabilities would be structured after active hostilities end. Budanov said the team would brief Washington on Kyiv’s priorities and review draft clauses that address deterrence against renewed attacks, financing to stabilize critical services and mechanisms to track compliance.
The presence of U.S. political and security figures underscores Washington’s central role in shaping any security framework that follows a cease-fire or broader settlement.
Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamia have been involved in prior negotiation tracks and parliamentary coordination. Their participation signals an effort to align military, diplomatic and legislative strands before documents move to a signing venue. Officials in Kyiv said the drafts under discussion are intended to complement, not replace, bilateral military assistance and existing multilateral commitments.
Davos timeline, signatures and open questions
Zelenskyy said a target window for signatures is the week of Jan. 20, contingent on U.S. approval. The Davos timetable is ambitious, and both sides acknowledged that final language may need follow-on technical work even if a political handshake occurs. Trump is scheduled to be in Davos, according to organizers, which could create opportunities for leader-level engagement around any announcement.
Any security guarantees will have to account for Russia’s role. Zelenskyy said Moscow would need to be consulted on the package, a reminder that even a U.S.–Ukraine signing would be a waypoint rather than a final settlement.
Negotiators expect sequencing questions to dominate, including what steps come before a nationwide cease-fire, how monitoring would work and how economic support would phase in alongside energy restoration.
