High-Stakes Diplomatic Meeting
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House says it feels very optimistic about advancing a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, will also participate.
The meeting follows two days of discussions in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials. Witkoff and Kushner refined a US-backed peace plan previously considered favourable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks constructive but emphasized that major issues remain unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon. After meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelensky said Ukraine’s sovereignty and strong security guarantees remain the top priorities. He highlighted that territorial concessions are the most difficult issue, as the Kremlin continues to demand eastern Ukrainian land. Kyiv firmly rejects these demands.
Frontline Developments Increase Tensions
The Moscow talks come after Russian officials claimed the capture of Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. Ukrainian authorities denied these claims. Open-source intelligence indicates neither town has been fully taken by Russian forces.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s disinformation response centre, said Russia aims to place all pressure from the US peace plan onto Ukraine. Russia has sought Pokrovsk for nearly a year and a half and released a video of Putin visiting a command post, stating that 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 virtually. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the peace draft had been heavily refined. She expressed optimism and hope that the war could soon end.
Putin said last week that he reviewed a US draft that could serve as a foundation for a future agreement. Kremlin officials later cast doubt on its acceptance after Kyiv and European partners secured modifications.
Peace Plan Faces Resistance
An earlier US-Russia draft from November alarmed Kyiv and Europe. It strongly favoured Russian demands and outlined how frozen Russian assets in Europe should be managed. It also set conditions for Ukraine’s access to European markets.
Macron said Monday that no final peace plan exists. He stressed that any agreement must involve Ukraine and Europe. He noted that Zelensky alone can decide territorial matters and said European nations must be included in decisions 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 be pivotal but warned that Russia negotiates only with those offering extra concessions. She added that pressure often falls on the weaker side, as ending the war seems easier if Ukraine yields—a result that serves no one.
Key Issues Remain Unresolved
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 generate tension. Ukraine and European partners seek firm guarantees, including possible NATO membership, to prevent future attacks. Russia rejects this outright, and Donald Trump also opposes Ukraine joining the alliance.
