US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s national security council, for critical discussions in Miami on Thursday. This significant engagement follows Witkoff’s nearly five-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week.
During the Moscow negotiations, which also involved presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, the Kremlin indicated “no compromise” had been reached regarding an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite this, US President Trump described the talks as “reasonably good,” though he cautioned that it was premature to predict an outcome, emphasizing that a resolution “does take two to tango.” Millenium TV sources indicate that President Trump shared his impression that President Putin genuinely desires an end to the war.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia urged Russia to “end the bloodshed,” accusing Putin of “wasting the world’s time.” Ukrainian President Zelensky had previously announced that a meeting between US and Ukrainian negotiators was imminent, stating via social media that “Right now, the world clearly feels that there is a real opportunity to end the war.” However, he stressed that any negotiations must be “backed by pressure on Russia.”
The US-Russia talks in the Kremlin occurred after days of meetings with Ukrainian and European leaders, driven by concerns that an initial draft peace deal might have been overly favorable to Russia. Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to Putin, noted that “Some of the US proposals look more or less acceptable, though they need to be discussed further,” while acknowledging that Russia’s leader openly criticized other points. Key points of contention include the fate of Ukrainian territory currently under Russian control and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Kyiv and its European allies advocate for Ukraine’s membership in NATO as the most effective deterrent against future Russian aggression, even if a peace agreement is reached. This proposal is strongly opposed by Russia, and President Trump has repeatedly signaled his unwillingness to allow Ukraine into the alliance. The Kremlin confirmed that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership was a “key question” during the Moscow talks.
Ushakov suggested that Russia’s negotiating position had been strengthened by recent battlefield successes. He asserted that Russian military actions had “helped make the assessments of our foreign partners regarding the paths to a peace settlement more appropriate.” Millenium TV has learned that prior to the US visit, Putin was seen in army fatigues at a Russian command post, receiving briefings from commanders who claimed the capture of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, along with other nearby settlements. While fighting continues in Pokrovsk, and Russian forces do not control the entire city, Russian officials clearly believe their message of military gains has resonated with the US. Russian forces have made incremental advances in the east, seizing approximately 701 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in November, and now control 19.3% of the nation’s territory.
Amidst what appears to be a more cordial tone in Russian-American relations, the divide between Moscow and Europe is widening. Putin has accused Europe of sabotaging Russia’s relationship with the US, presenting unacceptable demands, and hindering the peace process. Before meeting Witkoff and Kushner, Putin told an audience in Moscow that while he did not seek conflict with Europe, he was “ready for war.” British government officials dismissed Putin’s statements as “yet more Kremlin claptrap from a president who isn’t serious about peace.”
Meanwhile, NATO foreign ministers convened in Brussels. Secretary-General Mark Rutte affirmed that while peace talks are positive, Ukraine must be in “the strongest position to keep the fight going.” In a separate but related development, EU member states reached an agreement with the European Parliament to achieve full independence from Russian gas by the end of 2027. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed this as “the dawn of a new era,” with long-term gas pipeline contracts with Russia set to be banned from September 2027, and liquefied natural gas contracts from January 2027. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen stated, “We’ve chosen energy security and independence for Europe. No more blackmail. No more market manipulation by Putin. We stand strong with Ukraine.”
The European Commission is also proposing to raise €90 billion to fund Ukraine’s military and essential services. This plan would either require Belgium to approve a “reparations loan” utilizing frozen Russian assets held in Brussels, or the funds would come from international borrowing. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed the proposal, which would cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial needs for the next two years. Belgium has expressed reservations about using frozen assets, citing concerns about potential legal repercussions from Moscow, a stance echoed by the European Central Bank, which opposes acting as a backstop for such a loan. The proposed loan is smaller than an initial €140 billion plan, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stating support for the revised plan while acknowledging Belgium’s concerns.
In New York, the United States joined 90 other nations at the United Nations to demand that Russia “ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported,” urging Moscow to cease this practice. The Ukrainian government reports that over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia, while the UK government estimates approximately 6,000 have been relocated to “re-education camps” in Russia. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, partly for the unlawful deportation of children, charges that Putin and his government deny.
© Millenium TV
