High-Level Diplomatic Engagement
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House expresses strong optimism about progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, will also participate.
The meeting follows two days of negotiations 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 said major challenges remain unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon. After discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s sovereignty and firm security guarantees remain top priorities. He said territorial concessions remain the most difficult issue, as the Kremlin continues to demand land in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv firmly rejects these demands.
Frontline Developments Heighten Pressure
The Moscow talks follow Russian claims that they captured Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. Ukrainian officials denied the reports. Open-source intelligence suggests 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 attempted to capture Pokrovsk for almost a year and a half and released a video showing Putin at a command post, stating that Russia has 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 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 expressed doubts about accepting it after Kyiv and European partners secured changes.
Peace Plan Sparks Contention
An early 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 stressed that any agreement must involve Ukraine and Europe. He said Zelensky alone can decide on territorial issues and that European nations must participate in discussions on security guarantees, frozen assets, and Ukraine’s EU accession.
He praised US efforts to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 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 parties 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 benefits no one.
Key Disputes Remain Unresolved
Moscow has occasionally 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 potential NATO membership, to prevent future attacks. Russia rejects this, and Donald Trump also opposes Ukraine joining the alliance.
