High-Level Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday. The White House says it is 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 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 called the talks constructive but stressed that major challenges remain unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin will meet Witkoff Tuesday afternoon. After meeting 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 hardest issue, as the Kremlin continues to demand land in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv firmly rejects these demands.
Frontline Developments Increase Tensions
The Moscow talks come after Russian officials claimed they captured Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. Ukrainian authorities denied these claims. 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 shift 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, 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 virtually. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the draft peace plan had been heavily refined. She expressed optimism and hope that the war could soon end.
Putin said last week he reviewed a US draft that could form 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 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 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 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.
Major Disputes Remain Unresolved
Moscow has sometimes engaged with US mediation, yet 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.
