Critical Diplomatic Meeting in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House expresses optimism about progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, will also take part.
The meeting follows two days of talks in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials. Witkoff and Kushner refined a US-backed peace plan previously seen as favourable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as constructive but warned that major challenges remain.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon. After discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty and robust security guarantees remain top priorities. He noted that territorial concessions are the most difficult issue, as the Kremlin continues to demand land in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv firmly rejects these demands.
Frontline Developments Increase Pressure
The Moscow talks come after Russian officials claimed they captured Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. Ukrainian authorities denied the reports. Open-source intelligence indicates neither town has been fully seized by Russian forces.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s disinformation response centre, said Russia seeks to shift all pressure in the US peace plan onto Ukraine. Russia has tried to capture Pokrovsk for nearly a year and a half and released a video showing Putin at a command post, stating Russia made progress in a key area.
Before traveling to Moscow, Witkoff met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, President Zelensky, and Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov. Several European leaders joined the Zelensky-Macron talks online. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the draft peace plan had been heavily refined. She expressed optimism and hope the war could end soon.
Putin said last week he reviewed a US draft that could form the basis for a future agreement. Kremlin officials later expressed doubts about accepting it after Kyiv and European partners secured amendments.
Peace Plan Sparks Debate
An earlier US-Russia draft from November alarmed Kyiv and European nations. It strongly favoured Russian demands and outlined how frozen Russian assets in Europe should be used. It also set conditions for Ukraine’s access to European markets.
Macron said Monday that no final peace plan exists. He emphasized that any agreement must involve both Ukraine and Europe. He noted Zelensky alone can decide on territorial issues and said European nations must be part of discussions on security guarantees, frozen assets, and Ukraine’s EU accession path.
He praised US efforts to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and escalated with the 2022 invasion. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this week could prove decisive but warned that Russia negotiates only with parties offering extra concessions. She said pressure often falls on the weaker side, as ending the war seems easier if Ukraine yields, which serves no one.
Core Disputes Continue
Moscow has sometimes engaged with US mediation, but several Russian demands violate Ukraine’s sovereignty. Kyiv continues to reject them. Territorial disputes remain the main obstacle. Security guarantees also remain contentious. Ukraine and European partners seek strong protections, including possible NATO membership, to prevent future attacks. Russia rejects this, and Donald Trump also opposes Ukraine joining the alliance.
