High-stakes diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine have stalled following a lengthy meeting in Moscow between Vladimir Putin and an envoy for former US President Donald Trump. Steve Witkoff flew out of the Russian capital on Tuesday night after a five-hour discussion that Kremlin aides admitted produced no tangible results.
Diplomatic Efforts Falter After Kremlin Leak
The meeting capped two weeks of intense diplomatic manoeuvring, which began when Russia leaked a 28-point list of demands it had discussed with the United States. This prompted a frantic effort by Ukraine and its European allies to draft a counter-proposal more palatable to Kyiv.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated plainly that after the marathon talks, the two sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine.” He added, “There is a lot of work to be done.” A brief video feed showed Putin asking Witkoff about a tour he had taken of Moscow, with the envoy calling it a “magnificent city” before the feed cut.
Zelenskyy's Concerns and Putin's Threats
In Dublin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed deep anxiety that American focus on the peace process could wane. “If somebody from our allies is tired, I’m afraid,” he said. “It’s the goal of Russia to withdraw the interest of America from this situation.” Zelenskyy confirmed he was “ready for a meeting with President Trump” and was awaiting signals from the US delegation. Reports suggested Witkoff might meet Zelenskyy after leaving Moscow.
Putin used the talks to issue a stark warning to Europe, claiming without evidence that “Europe is preventing the US administration from achieving peace on Ukraine.” He threatened, “Russia does not intend to fight Europe, but if Europe starts, we are ready right now,” accusing European powers of being “on the side of war.”
Other Key Developments on Day 1,379
In a separate development, Ukrainian authorities have arrested a British military instructor accused of spying for Russia. Ross David Cutmore, 40, from Dunfermline, is alleged to have been recruited by the FSB to “carry out targeted killings on the territory of Ukraine” between 2024 and 2025. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular assistance.
Maritime tensions also escalated. A Russian-flagged tanker, the Midvolga-2, reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast, though its crew were unharmed. Ukraine denied involvement. This follows attacks on two other Russia-linked tankers last week, which a Ukrainian security source claimed were “covertly transporting Russian oil.” Putin condemned the strikes as piracy and vowed retaliation.
Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing a legal proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with a decision expected this week. EU leaders had previously hesitated due to legal concerns from Belgium, where most of the €140bn in frozen assets are held.
