Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday, as Washington expresses strong optimism about a possible deal to end the Ukraine war. Jared Kushner, who advises informally on diplomatic efforts, is also expected to attend. The summit follows two days of talks in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials, including Witkoff and Kushner, aimed at refining a US-backed peace plan viewed as favourable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the discussions constructive but admitted several difficult issues remain unresolved. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Witkoff will meet Putin in the second half of Tuesday.
Kyiv Stresses Its Sovereignty and Security Demands
Zelensky spoke in Paris after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday and said Ukraine still prioritises full sovereignty and strong security guarantees. He said the territorial question remains the most difficult element of the peace effort, as the Kremlin continues to press Ukraine to surrender eastern land still under Kyiv’s control, which Ukraine refuses to consider. The Moscow talks come hours after Russian officials claimed they captured the strategic town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and the border town of Vovchansk in the north-east. Ukrainian officials did not confirm any loss of control and open-source intelligence groups said neither city appeared fully captured. Andriy Kovalenko, who heads Ukraine’s disinformation countering centre, said Russia seems intent on shifting all pressure in the US peace plan onto Ukraine.
Russia Pushes Narrative of Progress on the Front Line
Russia has spent almost 18 months trying to take Pokrovsk and released a video showing Putin visiting a command post at the weekend where he said Russia had progressed in a vital area. Witkoff also met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Zelensky, and Ukraine’s new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov before travelling to Moscow, while several European leaders joined the Zelensky-Macron meeting online. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the draft peace proposal has been significantly refined and added that the administration feels very optimistic. She said negotiators should handle the details but stressed the hope that the war might finally end.
Uncertainty Surrounds Russia’s Position on New Peace Terms
Putin said last week he had reviewed a US proposal and believed it could form a basis for a future agreement. Kremlin officials later questioned whether Moscow could accept it after Kyiv and European partners secured changes to the draft. The original US-Russia draft circulated in November caused alarm in Kyiv and across Europe. It leaned heavily toward Moscow’s demands and attempted to dictate how frozen Russian assets in European institutions should be invested while also setting terms for Ukraine’s access to European markets. Macron said on Monday there is no finalised plan yet and insisted any deal must involve Ukraine and Europe. He said only Zelensky can decide on territorial concessions and noted that decisions on frozen Russian assets, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s route to EU membership must include European governments. Macron also praised the US administration’s push to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s 2014 seizure of Crimea and expanded with the 2022 full-scale invasion.
European Leaders Warn Against Pressure on Kyiv
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this week could prove pivotal but warned that Moscow prefers talks with parties who offer additional rewards rather than demand concessions. She said she fears all pressure may fall on Ukraine because forcing the weaker side to yield seems an easier route to end the conflict, though she stressed such an outcome benefits no one. Moscow has sometimes shown interest in US mediation attempts, but many Russian demands challenge Ukraine’s sovereignty and remain unacceptable for Kyiv. The territorial dispute is the main obstacle, but security guarantees also divide the sides. Ukraine and its European partners want firm protection, including possible Nato membership, against future attacks. Russia strongly opposes that goal and Trump has also ruled out allowing Ukraine to join the alliance.
