Putin meets Trump envoys on Ukraine plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are representing former U.S. president Donald Trump in a renewed diplomatic push to halt the war in Ukraine. The visit follows the circulation of a leaked 28-point U.S. draft peace plan that alarmed Ukrainian and European officials for appearing to accommodate key Russian demands; European capitals subsequently drew up counter-proposals intended to strengthen Ukraine’s position. Putin dismissed those European counter-proposals as unacceptable and warned Europe against military confrontation with Russia.

The U.S. envoys presented an approach reportedly focused on achieving an immediate reduction in large-scale fighting, prisoner exchanges and de‑escalation measures, while leaving territorial disputes to phased negotiation — a formula Moscow has signalled aligns more closely with its priorities, including recognition of areas it controls and security guarantees. Kyiv has stressed it will not accept any settlement that rewards aggression or forces cessions of sovereign territory, and Ukrainian officials continued parallel consultations in the United States to assess whether the evolving plan protects Ukraine’s core security and sovereignty demands.

Fighting on the ground remains intense. Russia’s defence ministry claimed full control of the strategic eastern city of Prokovsk, a claim Kyiv disputes, saying it still holds parts of the city. Pro‑Russian forces now control just over 19% of Ukrainian territory, up slightly from two years earlier though reporting indicates faster advance rates in 2025 than previously seen. Nearly four years after the invasion, Russia has yet to secure full conquest, even as its offensives inflict heavy losses.

The direct talks in Moscow, together with prior meetings between Trump and Putin and separate contacts with Ukrainian leaders, reflect an ad hoc diplomatic track led by nontraditional intermediaries. Analysts caution that the envoys’ mission faces steep obstacles: core gaps remain on territory, security guarantees and future military partnerships for Ukraine, and European leaders have signalled deep scepticism about any deal that would cement Russian gains. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said outcomes will depend on the course and results of the U.S.–Russia discussions. Observers note the negotiations could herald a new phase of diplomacy with global consequences, but also warn that significant differences make a durable ceasefire or comprehensive settlement uncertain.