U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow next week for follow-up talks. Putin indicated Russian negotiators will engage with Witkoff’s delegation, suggesting that Washington is now “taking our position into account.” The planned meeting places renewed attention on the Kremlin, which must decide whether to accept the current framework or demand further changes.
Confusion over the text persists inside Russia. On Wednesday, senior aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the Kremlin had not received an official copy of the latest draft, although it had seen an unofficial version. Ushakov said some elements could be viewed “positively,” while several points “require serious analysis.” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov echoed that stance, welcoming American involvement but insisting there would be “no concessions on key issues.” Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov urged caution, stating it was premature to conclude a deal was close.
Putin reinforced longstanding Russian demands in his Bishkek remarks, praising battlefield gains and reiterating that fighting would end only after Ukrainian forces withdraw from positions Russia considers critical. The president referenced the eastern Donbas region, control of which has been a central objective for Moscow and was included in earlier drafts of the peace plan.
Ukraine has signaled conditional support. A Ukrainian delegation met U.S. officials in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and, according to unnamed American sources cited by ABC News and CBS News, “agreed” to the overall approach while leaving several details unresolved. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a coalition of allied governments the same day that Kyiv was ready to move the framework forward, according to a copy of his speech reviewed by Reuters.
From Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio led weekend discussions with Ukrainian and European negotiators in Geneva, where the new 19-point version was finalized. President Donald Trump described progress on Tuesday at the White House, stating, “I think we’re getting very close to a deal,” and later wrote on Truth Social that only “a few remaining points of disagreement” separate the parties.
Diplomatic movement continues against a backdrop of ongoing hostilities. Russian forces maintain pressure along the front lines while Ukrainian units attempt to hold territory in Donetsk and Luhansk. Independent monitoring by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe shows sporadic clashes persisting despite talk of negotiations.
The next milestone will be Witkoff’s arrival in Moscow, where U.S. and Russian officials are expected to examine each article of the draft. Observers note that agreement on the document could set the stage for a formal cease-fire, but all sides emphasize that significant gaps remain on sovereignty, security guarantees and control of contested areas.
Crédito da imagem: Alexander Kazakov | AFP | Getty Images
