• A high-level U.S. delegation, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss a U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine.
  • The meeting follows weekend talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida, with President Trump stating only "a few remaining points of disagreement" are left.
  • The proposed framework, which has evolved from an initial 28 points, reportedly contains provisions favoring Russian priorities, including territorial concessions, raising concerns among European allies.

A pivotal diplomatic mission is underway in Moscow as U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov for Tuesday afternoon, aims to advance a U.S.-crafted peace framework intended to end the war in Ukraine. Witkoff arrived in the Russian capital on Monday, fresh from consultations with Ukrainian officials in Florida.

This represents a significant escalation in Trump's direct involvement in the conflict, with Witkoff now making his sixth trip to Russia since January. The envoy, who previously helped broker the Israel-Hamas ceasefire alongside Kushner, has turned his full focus to the Ukraine negotiations. According to people familiar with the administration's strategy, the goal is to lock down a deal before year's end, though the terms have sparked unease among Ukraine's European backers.

President Trump has publicly framed the negotiations optimistically, stating that Russia is making "big concessions" by agreeing to "stop fighting, and they don't take any more land." However, the substance of the proposal tells a more complex story. The framework, drafted in Geneva by U.S. and Ukrainian teams, is said to have evolved from an original 28-point plan. Sources indicate some clauses heavily favor Kremlin priorities, including a controversial requirement for Ukraine to cede territory it currently controls. Linguistic analysis of earlier drafts suggested signs of literal translation from Russian, fueling speculation about the document's origins.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the Florida talks, attempted to frame the U.S. objective more broadly. "We don't just want to end the war," Rubio stated. "We also want to help Ukraine be safe forever...So never again will they face another invasion." Yet, the core security guarantee Ukraine seeks—NATO membership—has been flatly rejected by Russia, creating a fundamental tension at the heart of the talks.

From the Kremlin's perspective, the U.S. proposals are merely "a set of issues put forward for discussion," as Putin recently characterized them, not a final draft. The meeting's outcome hinges on whether the remaining disagreements, which Trump has downplayed, can be bridged. European leaders, deeply skeptical of terms they view as rewarding Russian aggression, are watching with apprehension. Their position remains that Russia should return all occupied territory, a stance seemingly at odds with the reported concessions on the table.

The human cost of the war provided a stark backdrop to the diplomacy, as Russian missiles struck Kyiv over the weekend. For his part, Trump has said he is prepared to meet personally with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin, but only if a deal is nearly complete. With Witkoff and Kushner now in the room with Putin, the administration is betting its most trusted intermediaries can close the gap.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the day of the Moscow meeting. It is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2.