Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s envoy, is scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, amid intensified diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Washington remains “very optimistic” about reaching an agreement, said Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, ahead of the trip, following talks between Ukrainian officials and American representatives on Sunday.
However, both sides acknowledge that significant challenges remain, particularly regarding control over Ukrainian territory and post-war security guarantees for Kyiv, according to Sky News via Telegrafi.
Last week, Putin suggested that Russia would halt hostilities only if Ukrainian forces withdrew from the four regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2022. While Russia does not fully control these areas, its armed forces made the largest territorial gains in Ukraine in a year, capturing 270 square miles in November, according to AFP analysis.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently stated that relinquishing territory is not an option. On Monday, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, who also conducted a joint call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, reiterating support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Throughout this period, European allies have faced “hybrid warfare” tactics, including repeated airspace incursions by Russian drones and fighter jets.
Adding to the tension, NATO’s top military officer, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, stated on Monday that the alliance could consider a “preemptive strike” against Russia as a defensive action, according to the Financial Times.
These remarks were widely criticized as highly irresponsible, seen as a potential attempt to escalate tensions with the Kremlin.
