Today we achieved an important humanitarian breakthrough, with Ukraine and Russia agreeing in principle to what will be the largest prisoner exchange of the war. This will reunite families, build trust, and create momentum toward peace. Bringing Ukraine and Russia back together for the first trilateral talks since February was an important step. The discussions were serious, detailed, and frank. Both countries shared specific ideas to narrow the gaps and find a path to end the war. In close coordination with Ukraine and our European partners, we have aligned on proposals we will discuss with President Putin in Moscow tomorrow, followed by consultations with President Zelenskyy. President @realDonaldTrump is determined to end this horrible war. Significant differences remain, but we are committed to building on the progress made and advancing toward broader multilateral negotiations that can deliver lasting peace and a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine.

One year ago today, on October 9, 2025, we reached an agreement on President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza many believed impossible. After two years of devastating war, the agreement created a path to reunite hostage families with their loved ones, bring security to Israel, relieve the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and build a different future for the region. One year later, it’s remarkable how much has changed. The situation is far from perfect, but the progress is real, and the world is better for it. A look at the past year: ✅October 9, 2025: Hamas accepts President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, launching a ceasefire that has largely endured for a year. ✅October 12, 2025: Israeli forces complete first withdrawal to the agreed yellow line. ✅October 13, 2025: All 20 living Israeli hostages return home. Something many believed would never happen. ✅November 17, 2025: UN Security Council passes Resolution 2803, endorsing the peace plan and authorizing an international stabilization framework and the Board of Peace. ✅January 5, 2026: UN reports 100% of basic food needs being met in Gaza for the first time since 2023. ✅January 17, 2026: National Committee for the Administration of Gaza established, creating a Palestinian technocratic administration focused on restoring essential services and rebuilding Gaza. ✅January 26, 2026: Remains of the final deceased hostage returned. For the first time since 2014, no Israeli hostages, living or deceased, in Gaza. ✅February 19, 2026: The Board of Peace holds its inaugural meeting, hosted by Chairman President Trump. Landmark partnership with FIFA announced, including a $50 million commitment toward a football stadium, academy, and facilities for Gaza’s children, and billions of dollars in commitments for the people of Gaza. ✅May 2, 2026: UN reports that humanitarian aid entering Gaza had increased by 72% compared with before the ceasefire. ✅July 31, 2026: Hamas signs an actionable, step-by-step framework for decommissioning its weapons, developed with the support of Nickolay Mladenov and mediators from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the United States. Implementation remains a critical next step. ✅2026: Five nations commit forces toward the International Stabilization Force, with several more working on logistics for deployment this fall. ✅September 23, 2026: Board of Peace hosts an open meeting on the sidelines of UNGA releasing the next steps in the Gaza recovery plan. A year ago, so much of this seemed impossible. First, many doubted we could reach an agreement. Then came the harder question of whether the parties would honor their commitments. Over the past year, we have seen what can be achieved when people with profound differences find ways to work together toward a common objective. Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and I are grateful to @POTUS Trump for his leadership, @VP, @SecRubio, the Board of Peace team, led by @TB, @nmladenov, @lightstonea, @AliShaathNCAG, Gen. Jasper Jeffers, Liran Tanchman, Yakir Gabay, Josh Greunbaum, Josh Halpern and many others, and our partners in Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Morocco and Israel. Special thanks to Sheikh Mohammed, Ali Al-Thwadi, Hakan Fidan, General Hasan, Bader Abdulhamdi, @mikeeisenberg, and @AmbDermer. I’m also grateful to the many talented people who have volunteered their time and energy because they believe that the horrors of October 7 and the suffering in Gaza must never happen again. There is still hard work ahead. Disarmament must be implemented, security established, essential services restored, and communities rebuilt. None of this will be easy. But we have a thoughtful plan, committed partners, and a path forward that did not exist a year ago. It’s worth recognizing how far we’ve come, even as we acknowledge how much remains to be done. Hopefully, the year ahead will bring even more progress, and a few more miracles.

CNN published a deeply misleading story and headline suggesting that my diplomatic work in the Middle East somehow benefited investments in Israeli defense companies. But CNN’s own reporting says otherwise. Buried behind a paywall, it acknowledges: “CNN found no indication that Kushner’s actions as a diplomat directly affected the investments reviewed.” Phoenix is not a defense company. It is one of Israel’s largest publicly traded financial institutions, highly regulated and managing approximately $220 billion across thousands of investments. Think of Phoenix as the Israeli equivalent of Vanguard or Fidelity. It manages the retirement savings of millions of Israelis. The savers don’t choose the individual investments, and neither do I. I have no role in deciding what Phoenix buys or sells. It has performed very well for Affinity and our investors, up more than five times since our initial investment. Affinity is an SEC-registered investment firm. Our investment in Phoenix is public and dates to before President Trump was re-elected and before I returned to public service. Affinity does not own the defense companies highlighted in CNN’s story. Those facts make for a less provocative headline, but a much more accurate story. Misleading stories will not distract me from the work President Trump asked me to do: help end wars, bring people together and pursue peace. That work is too important.

For the last 10 years, I have ignored false and misleading stories about me and focused on the work. But the cycle has gotten out of control where old lies get repeated as fact, new ones get added, and the record becomes increasingly distorted. So from time to time, I’m going to respond, not to every allegation. But when the truth matters, I’ll put the facts and supporting information out publicly, and people can judge for themselves.

At President Trump’s direction, United States negotiators visited both Moscow and Kyiv in order to facilitate additional dialogue to end the Russia-Ukraine War. Ahead of the trip, the Russians and Ukrainians agreed to a three-day no-shoot policy to enable these discussions to occur. Special Envoy Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and officials from the National Security Council, State Department, and Treasury Department met with both President Putin of Russia and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in order to discuss each side’s proposals with the other. In Kyiv, the delegations were also joined by national security advisors from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France to collaborate on the path forward. Substantive progress was made, including movement on scheduling additional trilateral talks. President Trump is working hard to stop the killing and work towards a lasting and durable peace.

Six years ago, President Trump launched the Abraham Accords and opened a new chapter of peace, partnership, and prosperity in the Middle East. Many said it was impossible. But with courageous leadership, persistence, and a small group of people willing to challenge old assumptions, we proved that the impossible could be achieved. For too long, the region was trapped by old ideas and failed frameworks that managed conflict rather than solved it, and too often created incentives that perpetuated division and instability. The idea behind the Abraham Accords was simple: instead of reinforcing the things that divide people, build bonds that bring them together. Increase understanding. Expand trade and investment. Deepen security cooperation. Create tangible benefits that make people’s lives better and give everyone a stake in peace. What began as a bold vision has delivered billions in trade, joint innovation, new friendships and partnerships, and a powerful alternative to the failed approaches of the past. The Middle East is once again at an inflection point. There are breakthrough opportunities today that many will say are impossible. But we have seen what can happen when leaders reject conventional thinking, focus on common interests, and have the courage to pursue a better future. The Abraham Accords showed that a different path is possible. Now we have an opportunity to build an even broader movement around cooperation, shared prosperity and security—and replace the failed ideas of the past with a new model that gives people across the region something better to believe in and build toward. We surprised the world once. With the right leadership, focus, patience and courage, I believe we can do it again.

I say this again … Abraham Accords were the greatest breakthrough in American foreign diplomacy that brought Muslims and Jews closer, and because of the Abraham Accords, the UAE delivered more than 42% of aid into Gaza. God bless the Abraham Accords.

Today, Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Jared Kushner, and I met with the brave sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her strike group, and Carrier Air Wing 9 who are keeping us safe and upholding President Trump’s message of peace through strength. We thanked the sailors and Marines, observed live flight operations, and spoke with the pilot who downed an Iranian drone that approached the carrier without clear intent. Proud to stand with the men and women who defend our interests, deter our adversaries, and show the world what American readiness and resolve look like, on watch every day.

Today, delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners—the first such exchange in five months. This outcome was achieved from peace talks that have been detailed and productive. While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Discussions will continue, with additional progress anticipated in the coming weeks. We thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting these discussions, and President Donald J. Trump for his leadership in making this agreement possible.