US envoys go to Kremlin for talks with Putin on Ukraine

Key Points:

• US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to push for a peace deal in Ukraine, following recent US-led trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi that resulted in a prisoner exchange agreement but no major breakthroughs.
• The negotiations face significant challenges, particularly over Russia's demand for Ukraine to cede the entire eastern Donbas region, a condition Kyiv rejects amid ongoing fierce resistance and territorial disputes.
• Despite some progress, major differences remain on territorial issues, with Russia insisting on retaining all areas where its forces have advanced, while Ukraine and its allies oppose these demands.
• The role of the European Union in the peace talks remains contentious, with Moscow skeptical of EU involvement due to perceived lack of constructive proposals and representation, while Kyiv and the West support EU participation.
• US mediators are attempting to shift focus toward post-war security guarantees and reconstruction, but Moscow's rejection of a ceasefire and insistence on a comprehensive peace deal complicate efforts to reach an agreement.