MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday afternoon in Moscow for new discussions on ending the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced Monday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the meeting will take place “in the second half of the day,” confirming fresh diplomatic engagement as Washington pushes its latest peace framework.
Meeting Follows U.S.–Ukraine Negotiations
The announcement comes shortly after senior American and Ukrainian officials held negotiations in Switzerland on a U.S.-drafted peace plan that the Biden administration hopes can form the basis of a settlement.
The plan has generated controversy in Kyiv and across Europe, with critics warning that it includes significant concessions to Russia — including territorial recognition and military limits on Ukraine.
Witkoff, appointed by President Donald Trump, has met Putin several times at the Kremlin and has faced criticism for what some allies view as an overly accommodating posture toward Moscow.
Putin Restates Maximalist Demands
Putin last week reiterated that Russia will not halt its offensive unless Ukraine cedes the territories Moscow claims as its own. He warned that Russian forces would seize the regions by force if Kyiv refuses.
His public stance has reinforced fears that the U.S. proposal may tilt too far toward Russia’s preferred terms, even as Ukrainian forces struggle against mounting battlefield pressure.
Europe Braces for “Pivotal” Week
European officials have described the coming week as potentially decisive for Ukraine’s future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Paris on Monday for meetings aimed at securing stronger support from key EU leaders as pressure mounts around the U.S.-backed negotiations.
Meanwhile, President Trump expressed optimism that a path to ending nearly four years of war may be emerging, despite sharp disagreements between Washington, Kyiv, and European capitals over the current draft plan.
With Putin and Witkoff now set for direct talks in Moscow, diplomacy enters one of its most sensitive phases since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
