US special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Ukraine's national security council chief Rustem Umerov in Miami on Thursday, as Washington intensifies its diplomatic efforts to secure a pathway to peace in Ukraine. The meeting comes two days after Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, held nearly five hours of talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Trump described the discussions in Moscow as 'reasonably good' but acknowledged uncertainty about the path ahead for peace talks. 'It does take two to tango,' he told reporters. Putin, however, 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 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.' Meanwhile, a leaked transcript of a high-level European call, published by Der Spiegel, revealed deep anxiety over Washington's role, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning of a possible US betrayal on territory issues.
European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, expressed mistrust of Witkoff and Kushner's closed-door talks with Putin. Merz urged Zelenskyy to be 'extremely careful,' while Stubb said Europe 'cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.' The leaks follow earlier intercepted conversations between Witkoff and Kremlin aides, highlighting Moscow's efforts to drive a wedge between Washington and European capitals.
Russia has accused European powers of trying to sink peace talks, while Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of feigning interest. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called on Russia to 'end the bluster and the bloodshed,' and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Putin 'has not changed any course.' Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed continued military aid to Ukraine to maintain pressure on Moscow.
