High-Stakes Peace Negotiations: Trump Envoys Meet Putin to End Ukraine War as Zelensky Seeks European Support

Putin initiated the full-scale military operation against Ukraine in February 2022.

Washington:

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, and envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss potential pathways to end the Ukraine conflict.

This high-stakes meeting follows intensive diplomatic efforts across multiple locations including Florida, Geneva, and Abu Dhabi, with Washington expressing "very optimistic" sentiments about resolving Europe's most severe conflict since World War II.

However, Kyiv and its European partners harbor concerns that Witkoff, who has faced criticism for his Kremlin connections, might make concessions to Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Ireland on Tuesday to strengthen European support, as the US-Russia discussions occur at a critical juncture for Ukraine.

Russian forces have made significant territorial advances in eastern Ukraine during November, while Kyiv has experienced corruption scandals resulting in the resignation of its chief negotiator, a close associate of Zelensky.

Moscow has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian targets in recent weeks, with Zelensky claiming the Kremlin is attempting to "break" his nation's resolve.

While in Ireland, Zelensky received a briefing from Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, who returned from Florida reporting "significant progress" in US discussions, though noting that "challenging" issues still require resolution.

Zelensky has indicated he expects to address critical matters with the US president, including territorial integrity, security guarantees, and Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.

On Tuesday, he suggested Moscow's primary motivation for engaging in US talks was to secure relief from Western sanctions rather than genuine peace efforts.

Putin has established Ukrainian territorial concessions as a prerequisite for any potential agreement.

The diplomatic initiative coincides with reports of ongoing combat in Pokrovsk, an eastern Ukrainian town that Moscow has been targeting for months, despite Russian claims of having captured the town and raised their flag in its center.

The capture of Pokrovsk would represent a symbolic victory for Moscow, which refers to the city by its Soviet-era name Krasnoarmeysk. Prior to the Witkoff meeting, Putin appeared in military attire as his commanders informed him of the town's supposed capture.

"We all recognize the significance of this capture," Putin stated on Monday.

Last week, he reiterated Moscow's determination to seize the remainder of the Donetsk region by military means if Kyiv refuses to surrender the territory under its control.

'Serious Pressure'

Putin authorized the full-scale military campaign against Ukraine in February 2022, designating it as a "special military operation".

Kyiv and its European allies characterize the conflict as an unprovoked and illegal territorial seizure that has generated widespread violence and destruction.

The war has claimed tens of thousands of civilian and military lives since its inception, while forcing millions of Ukrainians to abandon their homes.

European leaders worry that Washington—which has provided substantial funding and weaponry to Kyiv—and Moscow might reach an agreement without Ukraine's proper involvement or force Ukraine into accepting unfair terms.

"I am concerned that all pressure will be applied to the weaker party, as that represents the easier path to ending this conflict through Ukraine's surrender," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Monday.

An initial 28-point US proposal last month aligned so closely with Moscow's demands that it sparked allegations of Russian involvement in its drafting—assertions that Washington denied.

Bloomberg previously reported that Witkoff had coached Russian officials on how Putin should communicate with Trump.

Much of the recent diplomatic activity has focused on ensuring Ukraine's interests receive proper consideration in any potential agreement.

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that the coming days could prove "decisive" for both Kyiv and Europe.

These talks follow Russia's escalation of drone and missile attacks throughout Ukraine during November, according to an AFP analysis.

Moscow launched 5,660 missiles and long-range drones at Ukrainian targets last month, according to daily reports from Kyiv's air force, representing a two percent increase compared to the previous month.

"This constitutes serious pressure, not merely psychological but physical pressure on our population," Zelensky has stated.