US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow to Discuss Evolving Ukraine Peace Framework

On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, high-stakes diplomatic discussions took place in Moscow. The meeting involved key representatives from the United States, specifically Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who held a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The primary focus of these intensive talks centered on proposals that could potentially form the bedrock for future agreements aimed at bringing the conflict in Ukraine to a close. This engagement served as a crucial follow-up to earlier consultations. These prior discussions included recent exchanges in Florida between the American delegation, which featured Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Ukrainian officials, notably Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

The objective of the negotiations in Moscow was to finalize an "updated and refined framework for a peace plan." This framework represents an evolution from the initial 28-point draft originally put forward by the US. According to President Zelenskyy, the revised document has been streamlined significantly, now comprising approximately 20 key points. President Putin, commenting on the upcoming session, clarified that the discussions would revolve around "proposals that could serve as the foundation for future agreements," rather than a formal, finalized document. The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, confirmed the meeting, adding that the dialogue would continue for "as long as necessary" to achieve progress.

Following their visit to Moscow, it is anticipated that Witkoff and Kushner will travel onward to a European nation. There, they are scheduled to meet personally with President Zelenskyy to deliver a comprehensive report on the outcomes of their conversation with Putin. The diplomatic efforts are clearly geared toward securing a genuine, lasting peace accompanied by robust security guarantees, rather than settling for a mere temporary cessation of hostilities.

Simultaneously, the situation on the ground remained volatile, with active combat operations continuing along the front lines. On Monday, December 1, the Russian military command asserted that they had secured control over the towns of Pokrovsk and Volchansk. The Ukrainian side swiftly refuted these claims, maintaining that their defense units were actively engaged in holding defensive positions in Pokrovsk, Volchansk, and Kupyansk, characterizing the Russian announcements as propaganda intended to influence the ongoing negotiations.

These parallel tracks—intense diplomatic maneuvering juxtaposed with ongoing military engagement—highlight the complexity of the current situation. The envoys are attempting to build consensus on a political pathway while the reality on the battlefield continues to shift. The success of this latest round of talks in Moscow will largely determine the immediate trajectory of future peace efforts.