NN ONLINE:
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, carrying a preliminary peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine.
The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Ireland, continuing his tour of European nations that have supported Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
After months of stalled diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying officials to advance his peace proposals. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, will also attend the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that discussions will involve only Witkoff, Kushner, and a U.S. interpreter and will continue “as long as needed.”
The U.S. has so far pursued parallel talks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Ukrainian officials while Witkoff heads to Moscow. Zelenskyy met Tuesday with the Ukrainian delegation that returned from the latest U.S. negotiations in Florida. Rubio described the talks as “progressing,” while noting that “more work remains.”
Zelenskyy said the Florida discussions were based on a document drafted earlier in Geneva, which he described as “finalized,” without further explanation. He emphasized that Ukrainian diplomats are working to involve European partners “substantially” in decision-making and warned of Russian disinformation campaigns.
“Ukrainian intelligence will share with our partners information on Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomacy to ease sanctions and block key European decisions,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
In Dublin, Zelenskyy held meetings with Irish political leaders and lawmakers during his first official visit. Ireland, a neutral country outside NATO, has provided nonlethal military aid to Ukraine and hosts over 100,000 Ukrainians who fled the war.
Despite ongoing consultations, few details have emerged on bridging the gap between Russia and Ukraine. Disagreements over territorial control and Ukraine’s security remain major obstacles, with European officials cautioning that peace will take time.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he and Zelenskyy, who recently visited Paris, spoke by phone with Witkoff, along with leaders of eight other European countries, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Macron described the coming days as “crucial” for U.S. and Western discussions.
Zelenskyy faces immense pressure amid one of the war’s most challenging periods, balancing diplomacy, funding for Ukraine, a high-level corruption scandal, and ongoing Russian attacks. The Kremlin claimed late Monday that Russian forces captured the key city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, though Zelenskyy said fighting there continued on Monday.
