In a significant diplomatic push, senior US officials, including envoy Steve Witkoff, held a crucial discussion with European leaders this week to chart the next steps in President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The call, described as "productive," focused on overcoming new challenges that have emerged in the peace negotiations.
Key Discussions on Security and Prosperity
Steve Witkoff, in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, revealed that he was joined on the call by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. They discussed advancing the European peace process with representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.
The core of the talks revolved around strengthening security guarantees and creating effective deconfliction mechanisms. The goal is not only to help end the current conflict but also to ensure it does not reignite in the future. Security guarantees remain a major point of contention, with Kyiv and its European allies insisting on a strong deterrent to prevent any future Russian aggression after a potential peace deal.
"We also spent time on the prosperity package for Ukraine—how to continue defining, refining, and advancing these concepts so Ukraine can be successful, resilient, and truly thrive once the war is over," Witkoff added. The discussions are set to continue into the new year.
Diplomatic Flurry and Zelenskiy's Long-Term Demand
This high-level call is part of a series of intense diplomatic activities in recent weeks, as President Trump works to fulfill his pledge to halt the war. The momentum follows a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida on Sunday, where both leaders expressed optimism about the negotiations.
However, President Trump cautioned that more work is needed and that he is not operating on a strict timeline. A critical revelation from that meeting was Zelenskiy's request for security guarantees that could last as long as half a century. This demand exceeds the current proposals under discussion, which outline a 15-year term with an option for extension.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
The path to peace faced a fresh setback on Monday. After President Trump spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin announced it would revise its negotiating position. Putin claimed Ukrainian drones had targeted his residence, an allegation Ukraine has firmly denied, calling it a Russian fabrication meant to derail the talks. President Trump later told reporters he was "very angry" about the purported incident.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have been working hard to revise a 28-point draft peace plan originally proposed by the US, which was seen as too favorable to Moscow. The latest version has been condensed to 20 points. However, Moscow has already warned that it contains unacceptable elements, particularly regarding the size of Ukraine's post-war military.
In preparation for the next phase, top Ukrainian envoy Rustem Umerov is organizing a meeting with security officials from European partners and the US, scheduled for January 3. This indicates that despite the hurdles, diplomatic channels remain actively engaged in seeking a resolution to the prolonged conflict.
