Putin meets with Wittkopf and Kushner: Will the Ukraine war end soon?
The world's attention is focused on Moscow today, Tuesday, where a high-level and crucial meeting is taking place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf, in what is considered the most serious step yet in international efforts to end the war in Ukraine. This intense diplomatic activity comes at a time of significant military escalation and intensified Russian shelling, adding urgency to these talks.
Details of the meeting and the American mediation
The Kremlin officially confirmed the details of the meeting, with Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that it would begin shortly after 5:00 PM (14:00 GMT). Peskov explained that President Putin would receive Witkov, who leads the US negotiating team on the Ukraine issue, at the Kremlin. The surprise in the announcement was the participation of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, in this sensitive meeting, reflecting the significant influence Washington is placing on this round of negotiations.
These developments come a day after optimistic statements by US President Donald Trump, in which he expressed his strong confidence that an agreement to end the nearly four-year-long conflict was imminent. Similarly, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt confirmed that the president and his team had worked tirelessly on this issue, driven by a shared hope to end this war, which has drained resources and threatened global stability.
Ukrainian concerns and European commitment
On the other hand, these moves are not without apprehension in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of trying to exploit these negotiations as a tactical cover to weaken the stringent Western sanctions regime imposed on it, without offering any real concessions on the ground. Zelensky is facing increasing political and military pressure both domestically and internationally, prompting him to undertake intensive diplomatic tours, the latest of which was to Ireland, where he received unwavering support from Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to offer support to his Ukrainian counterpart, emphasizing the need for the European continent to mobilize in order to ensure what he described as a "just and lasting peace." While welcoming American mediation, Macron cautioned against the absence of Europeans from the negotiating table, stressing that no plan is yet fully in place and that any sustainable solution requires the necessary security guarantees for Ukraine and active European participation in shaping the final settlement.
Background of the conflict and its geopolitical effects
It is worth noting that the war in Ukraine, which erupted in February 2022, has triggered a geopolitical earthquake whose repercussions have extended far beyond Eastern Europe. The conflict has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II and led to severe disruptions in global energy and food markets, driving up inflation in many countries. The international community views the current meeting in Moscow as a rare opportunity that could lead to a redrawing of the security map in Europe, amid concerns that any future settlement might come at the expense of Ukraine's territorial integrity or the cohesion of the Western alliance.
