A significant diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine is intensifying, with high-level talks unfolding on both sides of the conflict. This comes as the brutal invasion reaches its 1,378th day.
Shuttle Diplomacy and Revised Peace Plans
The flurry of activity saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit Paris on Monday, following discussions between his team and US officials. The focus, however, shifted to Moscow on Tuesday for a critical meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Speaking from Paris, President Zelenskyy addressed the Kremlin's narrative, stating their claims of recent battlefield advances were "exaggerated". He reiterated that Ukraine's non-negotiable priorities remain security guarantees, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. "Russia must not get rewards for its aggression on Ukraine," he insisted.
Zelenskyy revealed that a peace plan circulating between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington has been redrafted and now "looks better". He expressed a desire to speak with President Trump directly once Witkoff returns from Russia to discuss the next steps.
Warnings and Optimism from the West
Despite the diplomatic movement, there are deep concerns in European capitals. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warned that the Putin-Witkoff meeting risks wrongly pressuring Ukraine to make concessions instead of holding Russia accountable.
"In order to have peace, we shouldn’t lose focus that it’s actually Russia who has started this war and Russia that is continuing this war," Kallas stated, highlighting Russia's daily attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Conversely, the White House struck an optimistic tone. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration is "very optimistic" about reaching a deal, citing "very good talks" with Ukrainian officials in Florida just a day earlier.
Scrutiny and Sticking Points
The role of envoy Steve Witkoff remains under scrutiny. In previous trips, he has returned to Washington conveying Putin's maximalist demands for Ukraine's capitulation. His credibility was further questioned by a report alleging he coached a Putin adviser on how to pitch proposals to Trump.
While Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said the Florida talks achieved "significant progress", unresolved issues persist. Zelenskyy has carefully refused US-backed calls for Ukraine to cede territory it has fiercely defended, which Russia has failed to capture militarily.
The human cost of the war was starkly underlined on Monday by a Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro. Ukrainian officials reported four people killed and 40 wounded, with 11 in serious condition. The strike damaged businesses, an office building, and 49 cars.
As envoy Witkoff engages with the Kremlin, the international community watches to see if this diplomatic push can translate into a just and sustainable peace, or if it will falter on the enduring realities of the battlefield and Ukraine's resolve.
