(CNN) The Trump administration is seeking to announce a deal to deescalate violence with the Afghan Taliban as soon as this week, according to two US defense officials familiar with the discussions.

The prospective deal is being described as a "reduction in violence announcement," which would call for a ceasefire period between the coalition and the Taliban, with hopes of a peace deal being reached in the near future.

The US is aiming for a peace deal to help execute President Donald Trump's desire to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. The first step is expected to reduce the current level of troops from 12-13,000 to 8,600.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters in Brussels Wednesday there is a "reduction in violence proposal on the table," and said, "I'm here consulting with allies about it, and I have nothing further to announce at this time."

Esper is meeting with NATO Defense ministers at the alliance's headquarters where the topic of NATO's mission in Afghanistan is being discussed alongside a proposal for increasing NATO's role in Iraq among other issues.

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