Diplomatic Efforts Reach Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House expressed strong optimism about progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and informal adviser, will also join the talks.
The meeting follows two days of discussions in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials. Witkoff and Kushner refined a US-backed peace plan previously viewed as favourable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as constructive but stressed that significant challenges remain unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon. After talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s sovereignty and strong security guarantees remain top priorities. He said territorial concessions are the most difficult issue, as the Kremlin continues to demand eastern Ukrainian land. Kyiv firmly rejects these demands.
Frontline Claims Heighten Pressure
The Moscow talks follow Russian claims of capturing Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. Ukrainian authorities denied these claims. Open-source intelligence suggests neither town has been fully seized 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 nearly a year and a half and released a video showing Putin at a command post, claiming 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 draft peace plan had been heavily refined. She expressed optimism and hope the war could soon end.
Putin said last week 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 amendments.
Peace Plan Remains Contentious
An earlier US-Russia draft from November alarmed Kyiv and European nations. It heavily favoured Russian demands and outlined how frozen Russian assets in Europe should be used. It also set terms 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 territorial matters 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 prove 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.
Core Disputes Continue to Stall Progress
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.
