Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet with European officials in Brussels and subsequently with American officials in Florida, as efforts to secure a ceasefire and a lasting peace continue.
The meetings follow a high-level session in Moscow on 2 December between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at exploring potential agreements to end Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Putin reiterated harsh and comprehensive demands regarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and military, stating in an interview with India Today: “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops leave and stop fighting there.”
Earlier, the United States had proposed a peace plan perceived as highly favorable to Russia, reflecting Moscow’s longstanding conditions. Ukrainian and European officials have since sought a more balanced alternative. Ukrainian representatives also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Following the Moscow meeting, Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov described discussions as “constructive” but cautioned that no compromise had been reached. U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner did not provide media comments before departing Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, and Major General Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff, will hold talks in Brussels with European security advisors before proceeding to Florida for further discussions with U.S. envoys.
These developments come amid continued international efforts to mediate the conflict, which has persisted since February 2022, and underscore the challenges in reconciling Ukraine’s territorial integrity with Russian demands.
