Putin will meet Trump’s envoy in Moscow during important peace negotiations for Ukraine

Putin meets US envoy Witkoff in Moscow as Ukraine peace talks progress, with territorial disputes continuing to be significant obstacles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday, as diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing war in Ukraine gain momentum. Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and adviser to US President Donald Trump, is anticipated to take part in the high-level discussions.

The summit comes after two days of discussions in Florida involving Ukrainian and US officials, including Witkoff and Kushner, focused on refining a US-backed peace plan that was initially perceived as advantageous to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the discussions as “constructive,” while acknowledging that “some tough issues still have to be worked through.”

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, has confirmed that Witkoff’s meeting with Putin is scheduled for the afternoon. In a speech delivered in Paris following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky highlighted Kyiv’s key priorities: upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty and obtaining robust security guarantees. He cautioned that the territorial issue persists as the most contentious, with the Kremlin continuing to urge Ukraine to relinquish land in the east—demands that Kyiv has consistently rebuffed.

The discussions in Moscow align with Russian assertions of seizing important towns in eastern Ukraine, such as Pokrovsk and Vovchansk. Ukrainian officials have yet to verify these assertions, and independent monitoring indicates that the cities are not entirely under Russian control. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, cautioned that Russia seems to be concentrating on transferring pressure onto Ukraine in the current peace plan.

Before the trip, Witkoff held meetings with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Zelensky, and Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, with several European leaders participating virtually. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed a sense of optimism regarding the updated draft peace plan, yet refrained from sharing specifics, highlighting the active negotiations taking place.

Russian President Putin has recognized the examination of the US-drafted peace plan and indicated that it might serve as a foundation for a future agreement. Nonetheless, Kremlin officials subsequently expressed skepticism regarding acceptance, pointing to Kyiv and European allies’ demands for modifications.

The initial draft from the US and Russia, shared in November, drew criticism from Kyiv and Europe for appearing to favor Moscow, as it detailed conditions for frozen Russian assets in Europe and set regulations for Ukrainian market access. Macron emphasized that a definitive peace plan has not yet been established, noting that territorial, financial, and security matters necessitate contributions from both Ukraine and Europe. He emphasized that only Zelensky can finalize territorial concessions.

Moscow has intermittently participated in US mediation; however, its demands, especially concerning Ukrainian territory and security guarantees, are at odds with Kyiv’s sovereignty. Officials from Europe and the United States persist in their calls for guarantees, such as potential NATO protection for Ukraine, a stance that is met with opposition from Russia. Advisers to Trump have dismissed the possibility of Ukrainian NATO membership being included in any agreement.

The results of the discussions in Moscow may be crucial in deciding if the conflict, which intensified in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion, approaches a resolution or persists amid deep-rooted disagreements over territory and security.