A senior Kremlin official confirmed that US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. This high-stakes visit signals a major push to finalize a deal to end the war in Ukraine .
The planned talks follow days of intense diplomacy. Ukrainian officials have now agreed to the core terms of a revised US-backed peace proposal. President Donald Trump said his team is making progress, though a final agreement is not yet complete .
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, stated a preliminary agreement is in place for Witkoff's visit. He added that the US envoy will likely be joined by other American officials working on the Ukraine file . The Kremlin confirmed Witkoff is set to meet with President Putin himself .
This diplomatic movement comes after a series of meetings across global capitals. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi earlier this week . Before that, American, European, and Ukrainian delegates met in Geneva. Those discussions reshaped an initial US draft peace plan that had drawn strong criticism .
The early 28-point proposal was widely seen as favoring Russian demands. It included terms like Ukraine ceding control of the entire Donbas region and reducing the size of its army . After the Geneva talks, the framework was refined down to 19 points .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the new version represents a "workable" approach. He confirmed his country is ready to move forward with the United States and Europe . A US official stated that the Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal, with only minor details left to settle .
However, the path to a final deal remains complex. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned it is too early to say an agreement is close . He urged observers to wait for the outcome of the upcoming talks .
European leaders are also asserting their role in the process. They have expressed deep concern about any peace that might reward Russian aggression. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the US efforts but stressed a firm line .
"Europe is not a plaything, but rather a sovereign agent for its own interests and values," Merz told the German Bundestag. "We don't want peace through capitulation" .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined core principles for any deal. She said it must ensure a just and lasting peace. She also insisted that borders cannot be changed by force .
The diplomatic push happens alongside continued fighting on the ground. The southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia faced a large Russian drone attack. Regional officials reported more than 50 residential buildings were damaged and at least 19 people were wounded .
The peace efforts led by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff have also faced scrutiny. A leaked transcript of a call between Witkoff and Kremlin aide Ushakov was published by Bloomberg . In the reported conversation, Witkoff seemed to advise Ushakov on how to frame a ceasefire proposal for Trump .
When asked about the leak, President Trump defended his envoy. He called Witkoff's actions a standard negotiating practice .
"You got to say, look, they want this. You've got to convince him with this. You know, that's a very standard form of negotiation," Trump told reporters .
Kremlin aide Ushakov criticized the leak of the call. He suggested it was likely meant to harm the ongoing peace efforts .
The central issue of disputed territory is still a major hurdle. The initial US draft required significant land concessions from Ukraine . President Trump hinted that the current talks involve land swaps and border demarcation .
He noted the brutal reality of the battlefield, where Russia has more people and soldiers. He argued that a deal now could prevent further loss of life .
On the question of security guarantees for a future Ukraine, Trump said Europe would be largely involved. He stated that Europe really wants to see the war end .
The coming days will be critical. The meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Putin in Moscow is set for next week. The world will be watching to see if this diplomatic momentum can finally end a war that has lasted nearly four years .