Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy, and Jared Kushner are set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. This meeting comes amid ongoing efforts by U.S. officials to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed that the talks were scheduled to begin at approximately 5 p.m. local time, equivalent to 9 a.m. ET.
The anticipation for this high-stakes discussion is buoyed by recent meetings involving U.S. and Ukrainian officials, where revisions to the peace plan first proposed by the Trump administration were discussed. Witkoff, along with Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, engaged in talks with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida over the weekend, striving to create a deal acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the conflict.
In a positive sign, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed optimism about the outcome of these discussions, highlighting the constructive nature of the Florida talks. However, there remains a recognition of the challenges ahead, as a senior Ukrainian official noted that while progress had been made, further refinement was necessary.
President Putin, ahead of the meeting, has been busy conferring with military leaders and local authorities, emphasizing the Kremlin’s commitment to its demands regarding Ukraine. In recent comments, Putin reiterated that he would not compromise on territorial claims, questioning the viability of negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While Putin has made assertions about recent military advancements in Ukraine, Zelenskyy continues to rally international support for Ukraine. On the diplomatic front, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and is set to engage with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, aiming to enhance Europe’s united front against Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the complex issues still at play in negotiations, which reportedly include discussions on potential territorial concessions by Ukraine. The Ukrainian delegation in Florida remained in close contact with Zelenskyy to relay updates on the evolving talks.
This upcoming meeting in Moscow represents the sixth sit-down between Witkoff and Putin this year and reflects a renewed commitment by the White House to broker a peace deal in the nearly four-year-long conflict. Negotiators have been working on a revised peace plan, indicating a serious effort to move forward, even as challenges remain.
The peace negotiations’ intricacies may continue to evolve, yet the shared goal among Ukrainian allies remains clear: achieving a resolution that guarantees stability and security in the region. With ongoing efforts and collaboration, there exists a hopeful sentiment that a peaceful settlement can eventually be realized.