Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday, as Washington signals rising optimism about progress toward ending the Ukraine war. Jared Kushner, who advises informally on diplomatic matters, is also expected to join the discussions. The meeting follows two days of talks in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials, including Witkoff and Kushner, aimed at refining a US-backed peace proposal seen as favourable to Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as constructive but said several difficult issues still require work. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Witkoff will meet Putin in the second half of Tuesday.
Ukraine Stands Firm on Territory and Security
Zelensky spoke in Paris after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday and said Ukraine continues to prioritise full sovereignty and strong security guarantees. He said the territorial issue remains the most difficult part of negotiations because Russia wants Ukraine to surrender eastern land still under Kyiv’s control, something Ukraine refuses to consider. The Moscow meeting comes hours after Russian officials claimed they seized the strategic town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine and the border town of Vovchansk in the north-east. Ukrainian officials did not confirm any capture, and open-source intelligence groups said neither city appears fully under Russian control. Andriy Kovalenko, who heads Ukraine’s disinformation countering centre, said Russia aims to shift the full weight of the US peace proposal onto Ukraine.
Kremlin Highlights Claims of Gains on the Ground
Russia has tried for almost 18 months to take Pokrovsk and released footage showing Putin visiting a command post at the weekend, where he said Russia had advanced in a crucial zone. Before travelling to Moscow, Witkoff held discussions with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Zelensky, and Ukraine’s new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, while several European leaders joined the Zelensky-Macron meeting online. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the draft peace plan has been significantly refined and said the administration feels very optimistic. She added that negotiators will continue to handle the details but expressed hope that the war could finally end.
Dispute Deepens Over Revised Peace Framework
Putin said last week that he reviewed a US proposal and believed it could serve as a basis for a future agreement. Kremlin officials later questioned whether Moscow could accept it after Kyiv and European partners secured changes. The original US-Russia draft circulated in November caused alarm in Kyiv and across Europe because it strongly favoured Moscow’s demands. It also attempted to dictate how frozen Russian assets in European banks should be invested and set conditions for Ukraine’s access to European markets. Macron said on Monday that no final peace plan exists and insisted any agreement must involve Ukraine and European governments. He said only Zelensky can decide on territorial concessions and stressed that discussions on frozen assets, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s EU path must include Europe. Macron also praised the US administration’s effort to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated with the 2022 invasion.
Europe Warns Against Forcing Kyiv Into Concessions
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this week could prove decisive but warned that Moscow prefers negotiations with parties willing to offer extra concessions. She said she fears all pressure may fall on Ukraine because pushing the weaker side to yield can appear the fastest route to peace, though she argued that such an outcome benefits no one. Moscow has at times engaged with US mediation attempts, but many Russian demands challenge Ukraine’s sovereignty and remain unacceptable for Kyiv. The territorial question remains the central obstacle, and security guarantees also divide negotiators. Ukraine and its European partners seek firm protection, including possible Nato membership, to prevent future attacks. Russia strongly opposes this goal, and Trump has also ruled out allowing Ukraine to join the alliance.
