Russian President Vladimir Putin recently held a late-night meeting with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, in a significant diplomatic development. This gathering coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement that peace proposals are nearly ready, paving the way for critical trilateral negotiations set to commence in the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting, as detailed by the Kremlin press service, included Russian presidential foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Notably, Josh Gruenbaum of the US Government Procurement Agency also participated, marking his first involvement in such high-level emissary talks with Putin. The diverse range of officials involved underscores the complex nature of the ongoing negotiations.
While progress is hinted at, a substantial hurdle remains. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, US Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that one major issue is still unresolved, though he did not specify its nature. This echoes President Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment that the future status of Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine is a key point of contention.
President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for mutual compromise, stating that postwar security guarantees, crucial for Ukraine, are already agreed upon with the United States, though they would require ratification. He struck a firm tone, emphasizing that compromise must be mutual, saying, “Russians have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody has to be ready, not only Ukraine.”
The diplomatic push is set to enter a new phase, with Zelenskyy announcing that two days of trilateral meetings involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia are scheduled to begin in the United Arab Emirates. This round of talks will test whether the groundwork laid in bilateral discussions can translate into a viable roadmap for peace, as all sides navigate the unresolved major issues and the imperative for compromise. The upcoming negotiations are critical, as they will determine the next steps in the ongoing conflict and the potential for a lasting resolution.
