The diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine might be facing a "decisive week," the European Union's foreign policy chief has stated, as a special envoy for former President Donald Trump gears up to confer with Vladimir Putin after weekend discussions with Ukrainian leaders.
Envoy with Controversial Links to Russia Set for Talks
Steve Witkoff, the real estate magnate now serving as envoy, is scheduled to confer with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, as announced by. Witkoff was in recent reports exposed for instructing Russian officials on methods to secure Trump's backing.
"It could be a critical week for diplomacy," stated the EU's top diplomat, but adding it was "evident that Russia is not seeking peace."
Zelenskyy's Diplomatic Tour for Backing
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy embarked on a tour to rally support from Ukraine's European allies. He conferred with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to talk over "the foundations of a equitable and sustainable peace," the Élysée Palace reported.
The Ukrainian leader is furthermore expected to make his inaugural state visit to Ireland on Tuesday. Concurrently, his defense chief, Denys Shmyhal, was in Brussels on Monday for talks with his EU colleagues.
Concern over US-Led Talks
The EU official shared unease that Europeans were not represented in weekend negotiations held in Florida between the US and Ukraine, which she characterized as "tough but constructive." When asked about trusting the US to find a positive outcome for Ukraine, she noted, "Ukraine's representatives are there alone. If they were together with the Europeans, they would undoubtedly be much stronger."
Writing on social media, Zelenskyy stated the US talks had been "extremely useful" but that there were "a number of challenging issues that must still be worked through."
Anxiety over US Proposals
European leaders were earlier worried by a US proposal that surfaced last month, which was weighted in Russia's favor. Its reported terms included ceding Moscow areas in eastern Ukraine it does not yet control, requiring Kyiv to cap the size of its army, and abandoning its ambition to join NATO. While that initial plan has reportedly been toned down, Witkoff's forthcoming visit to Moscow—his sixth face-to-face meeting with Putin—is likely to increase concern in Kyiv and across European capitals.
Witkoff is set to travel to Russia on Monday, accompanied by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to continue discussions. Kushner recently played an active role in talks over a Gaza peace deal. The Kremlin did not specify whether Kushner would too attend the meeting with Putin.
Florida Talks and Political Strain
The two close Trump envoys participated in the Florida talks between senior Ukrainian and US officials, which were held at a private golf club built by Witkoff's company.
After the session, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope for an end to the war. "There's more work to be done. This is complex," Rubio stated. "We have a lot of moving parts, and obviously there's another party involved here... that will have to be a part of the solution."
Adding to the international pressure, President Zelenskyy is facing domestic pressure following the abrupt resignation of his chief of staff and top aide, Andriy Yermak. The resignation came in response to a expanding corruption investigation that has become the most serious scandal of Zelenskyy's time in office.
