Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday, amid optimism from the White House about reaching a deal to end the Ukraine conflict. This scheduled meeting comes in the wake of recent discussions in Florida between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, including Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at refining a U.S.-backed peace plan perceived as favorable to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed the talks 'constructive,' but noted that several tough issues still require resolution.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Witkoff's meeting with Putin is planned for the latter half of Tuesday. Zelensky, speaking in Paris after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasized Ukraine's priorities in the peace talks: preserving its sovereignty and obtaining solid security guarantees. He acknowledged the territorial issue remains a thorny point, with Russia pressing for Ukraine to cede control of eastern territories, a demand Kyiv staunchly opposes.
Tuesday's discussions in Moscow coincide with Russian claims of capturing the strategically important Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk and the border town of Vovchansk. However, Ukrainian authorities refuted these claims, aligning with open-source intelligence reports suggesting neither town had been fully seized by Russian forces. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center, asserted that Russia's aim was to apply pressure on Ukraine through the U.S. peace plan.
Putin, filmed visiting a command post over the weekend, reiterated progress in crucial areas, while Witkoff prepared for Moscow by conferring with key figures like UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Zelensky, and Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov. Joint discussions also engaged several European leaders virtually.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed confidence, stating the peace plan had