🔗 Share this article

The diplomatic effort to conclude the conflict in Ukraine could be entering a "decisive week," the European Union's top diplomat has observed, as a delegate for former President Donald Trump gears up to hold talks with Vladimir Putin after recent discussions with Ukrainian officials.

Envoy with Questionable Ties with Moscow Scheduled for Meeting

Steve Witkoff, the businessman turned negotiator, is scheduled to confer with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, the Kremlin stated. Witkoff was previously exposed for advising Russian diplomats on methods to secure Trump's backing.

"We are entering a decisive week for negotiations," remarked the EU's top diplomat, but stressing it was "evident that Russia does not want peace."

Ukrainian Leader's Diplomatic Push for Support

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy undertook a tour to rally support from Ukraine's European partners. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to talk over "the conditions of a just and durable peace," the Élysée Palace reported.

The Ukrainian leader is also expected to make his first official visit to Ireland on Tuesday. Simultaneously, his defence minister, Denys Shmyhal, was in Brussels on Monday for meetings with his EU equivalents.

Frustration over American Negotiations

The EU diplomat voiced unease that Europeans were not present in weekend negotiations held in Florida between the US and Ukraine, which she described as "challenging yet fruitful." In response to a question about trusting the US to find a good solution for Ukraine, she noted, "Ukraine's representatives are there by themselves. If they were together with the Europeans, they would definitely be much stronger."

Writing on the platform X, Zelenskyy stated the US talks had been "extremely useful" but that there were "several difficult issues that must still be resolved."

Anxiety over American Peace Plan

European leaders were earlier worried by a US plan that emerged last month, which was weighted in Russia's interest. Its reported terms included ceding Moscow areas in eastern Ukraine it did not yet control, forcing Kyiv to cap the size of its army, and renouncing its ambition to join NATO. While that initial plan has reportedly been modified, Witkoff's upcoming visit to Moscow—his sixth face-to-face meeting with Putin—is expected to increase anxiety in Kyiv and across European capitals.

Witkoff is due to travel to Russia on Monday, with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to continue negotiations. Kushner previously played an key role in talks over a Gaza peace deal. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Kushner would too be present at the meeting with Putin.

Florida Discussions and Domestic Strain

The two trusted Trump envoys were involved in the Florida talks between senior Ukrainian and US officials, which occurred at a exclusive golf club built by Witkoff's company.

After the session, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism for an end to the war. "There's more work to be done. This is sensitive," Rubio stated. "There are a lot of elements, and clearly there's another side involved here... that will have to be a part of the solution."

Adding to the international challenges, President Zelenskyy is under internal strain following the unexpected resignation of his head of cabinet and closest adviser, Andriy Yermak. The resignation came in response to a widening corruption investigation that has become the most serious crisis of Zelenskyy's presidency.