Momentum for Diplomatic Settlement and Issues Yet to be Resolved
The Moscow meeting follows two days of meetings in Florida involving Ukrainian officials and American officials, including Witkoff and Kushner, who were working together on creating a more comprehensive US-backed peace plan for Ukraine that previously appeared to be somewhat biased towards Russia.
During the course of these meetings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that although there have been some positive outcomes from the meetings, there remain many difficult issues that have yet to be resolved.
Following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, President Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine's top priorities are the preservation of sovereignty and obtaining strong and solid security guarantees.
President Zelensky also pointed out that the territorial issue continues to be the most difficult issue in the negotiations, as Russia is insisting that Ukraine surrender to it the eastern territories that Ukraine has already regained control over, and which Ukraine has maintained it has no intention of surrendering.
In addition to the meetings with President Putin, Envoy Witkoff has also met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, President Zelensky, and the chief negotiator of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov. A number of European leaders participated in the meeting between President Zelensky and President Macron via video. The White House has stated that it is optimistic about bringing an end to the conflict, based on significantly improved drafts of the peace plan.
European Concerns, Territorial Tensions
Putin stated last week that he had reviewed a draft peace plan proposed by the U.S. and believed it could serve as the basis for a future agreement; however, the Russian Government subsequently cast doubt on the authenticity of the plan after Ukrainian and other European Partners reported receiving amendments to it.
The draft U.S.-Russian agreement was published to be circulated at the end of November and alarmed both Kyiv and the rest of Europe due to its appearance as very supportive of Russia's interest. The draft plan also contained language regarding how Europe would handle frozen Russian assets and set out policy objectives for how Ukraine would have access to European Markets.
Macron stated there is no completed peace plan, and any agreement must involve Ukraine and European Nations. There can be no decision about territory other than the decision made by Zelensky. Also, European Nations will take responsibility for security Guarantees, frozen Russian assets, and the path for Ukraine to achieve membership within the EU.
Macron stated he was aware the Trump administration made multiple attempts to find a resolution to the conflict created by Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to EU Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, this week has the possibility of being crucial; however, she expressed her concern based on Russia's desire to negotiate only with those who offer concessions. Kallas expressed her concern for the potential of pressure to be brought against Ukraine to give in since Ukraine, as the weaker party, does not have any incentive to surrender against the best interest of the wider international community.
U.S. Security Guarantees, Battlefield Claims
Although some engagement has occurred with U.S. diplomatic efforts, several demands of Russia are still inconsistent with the sovereignty of Ukraine. The primary impediment to reaching a peace agreement with Russia remains the Territorial Disputes, while the question of U.S. Security Guarantees for Ukraine remains unresolved.
Ukraine and its European Allies want to see a high level of security protection, including potential NATO Membership for Ukraine; however, Russia opposes NATO Membership for Ukraine, and Trump has already ruled it out.
On Tuesday, Russia claimed that it captured the Strategic Towns of Pokrovsk, referred to in Russian as Krasnoarmeysk, and Vovshansk in eastern Ukraine; however, no Ukrainian Officials have confirmed these claims, and no open-source intelligence monitors have determined either location has been wholly captured by Russian Forces.
