The political effort to end the fighting in Ukraine may be approaching a "critical week," the EU's foreign policy chief has remarked, as a special envoy for ex-leader Donald Trump gears up to confer with Vladimir Putin following weekend discussions with Ukrainian leaders.
Representative with Controversial Ties with Russia Scheduled for Talks
Steve Witkoff, the real estate magnate turned peace envoy, is scheduled to hold talks with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, as announced by. Witkoff was previously revealed for coaching Russian diplomats on how to win Trump's support.
"We are entering a critical week for peace efforts," said the EU's lead official, while emphasizing it was "clear that Russia does not want peace."
Zelenskyy's European Tour for Backing
Meanwhile, Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy embarked on a mission to rally support from Ukraine's European friends. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to examine "the foundations of a just and durable peace," the Élysée Palace reported.
The Ukrainian leader is furthermore scheduled to make his initial diplomatic trip to Ireland on Tuesday. Concurrently, his defence minister, Denys Shmyhal, was in Brussels on Monday for meetings with his EU counterparts.
Frustration over US-Led Negotiations
The EU official expressed frustration that Europeans were not present 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 secure a good solution for Ukraine, she said, "Ukrainians are there by themselves. If they would be together with the Europeans, they would certainly be in a better position."
Writing on the platform X, Zelenskyy noted the US talks had been "extremely useful" but that there were "some tough issues that remain to be worked through."
Worry over American Proposals
European leaders were earlier concerned by a US framework that surfaced last month, which was weighted in Russia's interest. Its alleged terms included ceding Moscow regions in eastern Ukraine it did not yet control, forcing Kyiv to cap the size of its army, and abandoning its ambition to join NATO. While that original plan has reportedly been modified, Witkoff's forthcoming visit to Moscow—his sixth meeting with Putin—is likely to fuel concern in Kyiv and across European governments.
Witkoff is expected to travel to Russia on Monday, accompanied by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to continue peace talks. Kushner previously played an prominent role in negotiations over a Gaza peace deal. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Kushner would too be present at the meeting with Putin.
Florida Discussions and Political Strain
The two trusted Trump representatives took part in the weekend talks between senior Ukrainian and US officials, which were held at a private golf club built by Witkoff's company.
After the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for an end to the war. "There's more work to be done. This is sensitive," Rubio said. "We have a lot of complexities, and clearly there's another party involved here... that will have to be a part of the solution."
Amid the diplomatic challenges, President Zelenskyy is facing domestic pressure following the sudden resignation of his head of cabinet and top aide, Andriy Yermak. The resignation came in response to a expanding anti-corruption investigation that has become the biggest crisis of Zelenskyy's presidency.
