President Vladimir Putin is set to meet U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment in Washington’s renewed push to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. The visit comes as the Trump administration seeks to revise its earlier peace framework, which drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European capitals for appearing to align too closely with Russian demands.
According to U.S. officials, Witkoff will present a reworked proposal shaped by recent talks with Ukrainian diplomats. The updated plan reportedly attempts to address concerns raised after an initial draft circulated last month was rejected by Ukraine and its allies for conceding too much to Moscow.
Tuesday’s meeting will be Witkoff’s sixth trip to the Russian capital since January, underscoring the urgency with which Washington is pursuing a resolution. His visit follows weekend discussions in Miami between American and Ukrainian delegations, who described the negotiations as productive but acknowledged that significant differences remain. Neither side disclosed the specific sticking points.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, has been rallying European support amid fears that the U.S.-led initiative could pressure Kyiv into accepting concessions it has long refused. On Monday, Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and is scheduled to travel to Ireland on Tuesday for additional consultations with European leaders.
The diplomatic push comes at a sensitive moment for Ukraine, which is contending with both ongoing Russian advances and a domestic corruption scandal that has weakened its political standing. These vulnerabilities, analysts say, have emboldened Moscow’s negotiating posture.
Russia has reiterated its conditions for halting its full-scale invasion, launched in 2022. The Kremlin demands that Ukraine relinquish its remaining territory in the Donbas region, formally abandon its bid for NATO membership, and provide protections for Russian language, culture, and the Russian Orthodox Church—terms that Kyiv has repeatedly rejected as unacceptable infringements on its sovereignty.
Despite initial resistance from Russian officials to the revised peace outline, Moscow has signaled that progress depends on Washington’s ability to pressure Kyiv into a deal more favorable to the Kremlin’s long-standing objectives.
As Witkoff arrives in Moscow, diplomats across Europe and the United States are watching closely for any indication of movement. Whether the revised U.S. proposal can bridge the deep divides between Kyiv and Moscow—or satisfy skeptical European partners—remains uncertain.
