US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Ukraine's national security council chief, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on Thursday, as Washington intensifies diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine. The meeting follows Witkoff's five-hour talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, accompanied by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Moscow later stated the discussions had not brought the sides closer to a peace agreement.
President Trump described the Moscow talks as 'reasonably good' but acknowledged uncertainty about the path ahead. Speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, he said Putin would like to make a deal but 'it does take two to tango'. Trump claimed the US had 'something pretty well worked out' with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Putin struck a belligerent tone on Thursday, telling India Today that Russia would seize full control of eastern Donbas by force unless Ukrainian troops withdrew—a demand Kyiv has rejected.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out giving up territory, stating on Wednesday that 'only by taking Ukraine's interests into account is a dignified peace possible'. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Putin to 'stop wasting the world's time'. A leaked transcript of a high-level European call, published by Der Spiegel, revealed deep anxiety over Washington's role, with French President Macron warning of 'great danger' if the US betrays Ukraine on territory without security guarantees.
European leaders expressed mistrust of Witkoff and Kushner, with German Chancellor Merz advising Zelenskyy to be 'extremely careful' and Finnish President Stubb saying 'we cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys'. The leak follows earlier transcripts of intercepted conversations involving Witkoff and Kremlin aides. Moscow has sought to drive a wedge between Washington and Europe, accusing European powers of proposing unacceptable ideas and threatening war.
Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of feigning interest in peace. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called on Russia to 'end the bluster and the bloodshed'. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted Putin has not changed course and is pushing more aggressively on the battlefield. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said partners would keep supplying military aid to maintain pressure on Moscow.
