Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks on the Ukraine agreement with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Tuesday, state television reported.
“I’m very happy to see you,” Putin said to Witkoff and Kushner, who were sitting next to the translators.
The meeting comes after Washington expressed confidence in the plan, which was negotiated in part during talks in Florida with Ukrainian delegates. “I think the administration feels very optimistic,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday. Although details of the revised document remain unpublished, the initial version included points such as the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of Donetsk still under Kyiv's control and U.S. recognition of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea as part of Russia.
International pressure is mounting as Zelensky seeks European political support. On Monday evening, he landed in Ireland to receive a briefing from Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, following a previous meeting in Paris with Emmanuel Macron. In Dublin, he was received by Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who stated on social media: “Our support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy remains steadfast.”
Umerov himself described the progress in the Florida talks as “significant,” although he admitted that agreements were still lacking on “complex” issues. The diplomatic situation is intertwined with internal difficulties in Kyiv, exacerbated by a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of the chief of staff and government chief negotiator, Andriy Yermak.
Zelensky, after his visit to Paris, explained that the country is awaiting key contacts with the US administration. “We are waiting for a conversation with the President of the United States on some rather challenging issues,” the president stated, also warning of an increase in Russian attacks.
“Russia is increasing missile and drone launches to break the will of the Ukrainians. This represents serious pressure, not only psychological but also physical, on our population,” he declared.
Macron considered that the current moment “could be decisive for the future of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe.” The French president emphasized that no territorial agreement can be finalized without the Ukrainian leader’s approval. “There is no finalized plan on territorial issues, strictly speaking. Only President Zelensky can finalize it,” he stated.
Zelensky insisted that Moscow should not receive concessions that could be interpreted as a reward for the military offensive. “The aggressor must pay for the aggression,” he stated. Both he and Macron held telephone conversations with Witkoff and Umerov during the negotiations in Florida, according to the Élysée Palace, and the dialogue included other European leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The exchange continued later with a conversation between Macron and Trump to discuss “the next steps in the mediation efforts,” the French presidency noted.
The European Union expressed concern over the meeting between Putin and Witkoff. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kakha Kallas, warned that she fears"all the pressure will be applied to the weakest side, because that is the easiest way to stop this war when Ukraine surrenders."
Macron welcomed the new energy sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia, calling them a “game changer,” and noting that in the coming weeks he expects the pressure on the Russian energy sector to be “the highest since the beginning of the trade war.”
The diplomatic push coincides with adverse military movements for Kyiv. An analysis of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) database indicated that last month Russia achieved its most extensive advance since November 2014. By the end of November, Russian troops controlled 19.3% of Ukrainian territory, either fully or partially, according to that review.
