Witkoff Heads to Moscow as Peace Talks Gain Momentum US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, with the White House expressing optimism about a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war. Witkoff will be join

US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, with the White House expressing optimism about a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war. Witkoff will be joined by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who has played a role in backchannel diplomacy. The summit follows two days of negotiations in Florida between US and Ukrainian officials, where a draft peace plan was refined. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as “constructive” but stressed that sovereignty and security guarantees remain Kyiv’s top priorities. The most contentious issue is territorial concessions, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede parts of the east—something Kyiv has consistently rejected. Russian officials claimed advances in Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, though independent monitors dispute full capture. Ahead of Moscow talks, Witkoff consulted with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelensky, and Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, while European leaders joined virtually. French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that any deal must involve Ukraine and Europe, highlighting unresolved questions around frozen Russian assets, EU accession, and NATO security guarantees. While Washington remains “very optimistic,” EU officials warn that pressure could fall disproportionately on Ukraine, with sovereignty and security guarantees still at the heart of the dispute.