What's happened
U.S. envoys, including Trump’s Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, met with Ukraine and Russian officials amid ongoing hostilities. Talks follow recent Kremlin discussions and Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory, highlighting stalled peace efforts after nearly four years of conflict.
What's behind the headline?
The current diplomatic activity underscores the complexity of ending the Ukraine war. The involvement of U.S. figures with backgrounds in real estate, like Kushner and Witkoff, signals a shift toward dealmaking approaches rather than traditional diplomacy. Their meetings with Putin and Ukrainian officials suggest a desire to leverage informal channels to break the deadlock.
The leaked details of Trump’s 28-point plan, which proposed Ukraine ceding parts of Donbas and limiting its military, reveal the contentious nature of proposed solutions. European allies’ concerns about Russian expansion and security guarantees complicate negotiations further.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military actions, including drone attacks inside Ukraine and across Russian borders, demonstrate that hostilities persist despite diplomatic efforts. The Ukrainian government’s focus on securing strong security guarantees indicates that any lasting peace will require substantial concessions and guarantees.
The recent escalation and the secretive nature of talks suggest that a breakthrough remains elusive. The next few weeks will be critical in determining whether diplomatic channels can produce a tangible ceasefire or if hostilities will intensify, prolonging regional instability.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on the discreet U.S. peace efforts and recent diplomatic meetings, highlighting the involvement of Trump’s envoys and the Ukrainian delegation’s concerns. AP News details the ongoing military exchanges, drone attacks, and the diplomatic context, including Putin’s comments on the Kremlin talks and the recent escalation in hostilities. Both sources emphasize the stalled peace process and the complex regional dynamics, with The Independent focusing on diplomatic negotiations and AP News providing military and strategic updates.
How we got here
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict have been ongoing since Russia's invasion in 2022. Previous attempts to broker peace have failed, with negotiations hampered by disagreements over security guarantees and territorial concessions. Recent high-level talks aim to restart dialogue amid continued fighting and regional tensions.
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Jared Corey Kushner is an American investor, real-estate developer, and newspaper publisher who is currently senior advisor to his father-in-law, Donald Trump, the President of the United States.
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Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor and landlord based in New York City, and founder of the Witkoff Group.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.