US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is dispatching his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow next week for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Washington attempts to finalise a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that only “a few remaining points of disagreement” stand in the way of an agreement.
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The president added that he hopes to meet both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “soon”, but only once the peace deal is “final or in its final stages”. He later told reporters aboard Air Force One that his son-in-law Jared Kushner may accompany Witkoff on the mission.
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European leaders, however, remain doubtful. French President Emmanuel Macron said Moscow has shown “no willingness” to agree to a ceasefire or negotiate on the revised plan. Negotiations between US and Russian delegates continued in Abu Dhabi, while a coalition of 30 pro-Ukraine countries held virtual consultations.
NEW!! ‘Map, Concept’ – Trump Downplays Controversial Peace Plan
As Trump scrambles for damage control and sends an envoy to Moscow next week, Western officials blast the “undisciplined” process as critics warn of a push for a “pro-Russian” deal
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Meanwhile, fighting raged on the ground. Russian missile strikes hit Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday night, damaging several residential buildings and injuring 12 people. In Kyiv, powerful explosions and waves of drones left at least seven people dead as residents sought shelter in underground metro stations.
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Despite the intensified attacks, negotiators expressed cautious hope. Ukrainian representative Rustem Umerov confirmed a “common understanding” with the United States on core elements of the deal, though key details still require direct talks. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that a “tough road ahead” remains as Russia continues to occupy nearly a fifth of Ukraine.