Focus shifts to Putin following US-Ukraine meeting in Florida

KHARKIV, Ukraine and LONDON Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy, is set to travel to Moscow on Monday to deliver a proposed peace plan to Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a critical moment for the Trump administrations efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Witkoffs visit to Moscow comes just one day after engaging with a senior Ukrainian delegation in Florida, where discussions focused on exploring a possible settlement that could be acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia. According to the Kremlin, the meeting with Putin is scheduled for Tuesday. The president will hold several private sessions today to prepare for U.S.-Russia contacts, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated in Moscow.

Expectations remain low that Putin will agree to a deal. Last week, he reiterated demands for Ukraine to withdraw from certain territories and described negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as pointless, signaling a preference to continue military operations rather than compromise.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is expected in Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, discussing U.S.-led negotiation efforts. Observers note that Ukraine and Europe appear to be signaling unity on a day dominated by U.S.-Russia diplomatic moves. It will be a very substantive day. Diplomacy, defense, energythe priorities are clear, Zelenskyy said Monday morning.

On Sunday, Zelenskyy stated that his representatives in Florida had reported the main parameters of discussions, along with some preliminary outcomes, but full details were pending. I look forward to receiving a full report from our team during a personal meeting, he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the next steps as delicate, noting that multiple factors remain in play. There is another party involved that will have to be part of the discussions when Mr. Witkoff travels to Moscow. We have also maintained contact with the Russian side and have a clear understanding of their perspective, Rubio explained.

The Florida talks, lasting roughly two hours at Shell Bay Golf Course in Hallandale Beach, were reported as productive by both U.S. and Ukrainian officials, though no detailed outcomes were shared. The discussions centered on a revised 19-point peace plan developed in Geneva, which adjusted a prior 28-point proposal previously criticized for favoring Russia.

Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that key topics included security guarantees for Ukraine, the status of billions of dollars in Russian assets frozen by Western nations, and the potential for future Ukrainian elections. The frozen assets issue remains particularly important to Russia.

However, no progress was reported on Russias demand for Ukraine to relinquish control of unoccupied areas in the Donbas region. Both sides remain firm on their positions, with Ukraine refusing to cede territory and Russia not considering a ceasefire.

Rubio described the sessions as very productive and useful and emphasized the shared goal of not only ending the war but ensuring Ukraines long-term prosperity. Rustem Umerov, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council Secretary, highlighted the continuation of previous successful meetings and noted that additional negotiation stages are planned.

Zelenskyy described initial feedback from his team on Sundays meeting as very constructive while acknowledging that challenging issues remain unresolved.

Author: Sophia Brooks