US Envoy to Meet Putin in Moscow After Intensive Ukraine Peace Framework Talks

United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday afternoon, December 1st, following intensive negotiations in Florida over the preceding weekend aimed at advancing a framework to conclude the conflict in Ukraine.

Witkoff, known for his background in dealmaking, will be undertaking his sixth visit to Russia since January, highlighting the persistent nature of these diplomatic efforts. The Kremlin confirmed the Tuesday meeting, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that President Putin’s Monday schedule was occupied with preparatory discussions. The Florida session, held on Sunday, November 30th, involved Witkoff alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, engaging with a Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. Secretary Rubio described the four-hour session as productive but acknowledged that significant disagreements persist, particularly regarding territorial concessions and security guarantees.

Umerov confirmed that the dialogue addressed Ukraine's national interests and expressed appreciation for the US mediation, stating that the "US is hearing us. US is supporting us. US is working beside us." The meeting occurred at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, a venue associated with Witkoff. These efforts focus on refining a previously leaked 28-point peace proposal, which had drawn criticism for appearing favorable to Moscow’s demands, including potential recognition of occupied territory. The initial framework reportedly envisioned Ukraine ceding significant territory and limiting its military size to 600,000 personnel, conditions previously deemed unacceptable by Kyiv. The revised framework is reportedly pared down to approximately 20 points, though specific alterations remain undisclosed.

This US-led mediation runs parallel to concurrent European diplomatic activity. On the same day as Witkoff’s planned departure, EU defense ministers convened in Brussels for a meeting chaired by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, who assumed office on December 1, 2024. Kallas asserted that the coming week is pivotal for diplomacy but also assessed that Moscow shows no genuine interest in peace, necessitating a continued ramp-up of military assistance to Ukraine. She also voiced criticism regarding the EU’s exclusion from the direct Washington-Kyiv negotiations while pressing for a decision on financing Ukraine.

The diplomatic push reflects a concentrated year-end effort to find a resolution, layered with domestic Ukrainian considerations, including a recent corruption investigation that resulted in the absence of top aide Andriy Yermak from the Florida talks. The engagement, spanning from Florida to Moscow and Brussels, signifies a concentrated push, though fundamental disagreements on sovereignty and territory suggest a final accord remains an intricate objective.