MOSCOW — U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday in a high-stakes bid to advance a deal to end the war in Ukraine . The closed-door discussions are focused on a revised U.S. peace proposal, which aims to settle a conflict that has claimed an estimated 1.2 million casualties . The meeting follows a weekend of intense U.S.-Ukraine negotiations in Florida, with all sides signaling cautious hope but fundamental disagreements remain on security guarantees and territory .

Putin received the U.S. delegation in the second half of the day, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov . The Trump administration is publicly optimistic about the talks. “I think the administration feels very optimistic,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday . This diplomatic push comes as Russian forces have made their most significant territorial gains in a year, reportedly capturing the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk .

An Unconventional Diplomatic Team

President Trump's choice of negotiators underscores his unconventional approach to diplomacy. Witkoff, a real estate developer and longtime business associate of Trump, was initially appointed as the Middle East envoy. His portfolio expanded to include Ukraine peace efforts following his role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas . Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, has no official government role but is seen by the president as a trusted “closer” for complex foreign policy deals .

The selection of this team, which operates largely outside traditional diplomatic channels, has raised concerns among some U.S. allies and former officials. A former senior State Department official noted that relying on a tight circle risks a lack of diverse perspectives and institutional expertise . European officials have also expressed unease, with one questioning the mandate and knowledge of a negotiator like Kushner, who holds no official position .

The Evolving Peace Proposal

The talks in Moscow center on a U.S. peace plan that has undergone significant revision. A 28-point draft leaked last month was denounced by European officials and members of Congress as a capitulation to Russia, as it reportedly included demands for Ukraine to cede unoccupied territory in the Donbas region and abandon its ambition to join NATO .

Following backlash, U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva and again this past weekend in Florida to refine the framework. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that the revised proposal "looks better" than the initial version . Key unresolved issues, according to officials familiar with the talks, include robust security guarantees for Ukraine and the status of Russian-controlled territories . Russia continues to insist on a pledge that Ukraine will never join NATO and recognition of its sovereignty over Crimea and other occupied regions .

European Warnings and Ukraine's Stance

European leaders, while supportive of peace efforts, are deeply concerned that the bilateral U.S.-Russia talks will pressure Ukraine into making dangerous concessions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that the talks risk piling pressure on the victim of the aggression, rather than its perpetrator .

“I am afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim, which is that Ukraine has to make concessions and obligations,” Kallas said . She and other European leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz, have insisted that Ukraine must be at the center of any negotiations and that peace cannot be dictated by Russia . Zelenskyy, during a diplomatic tour in Europe, stated that Russia must not be rewarded for its invasion .

Strategic Stakes and Russian Posture

Analysts suggest Putin may be engaging in these talks to buy time and relieve international pressure, particularly as new U.S. sanctions on Russia's major oil companies took effect in late November . Orysia Lutsevych of Chatham House argued, “Putin plays Trump for time. His goals are to impede the enforcement of oil sanctions” .

Russia maintains a maximalist position publicly. Putin has stated that if Ukraine refuses an agreement, Russian forces will advance further . Kremlin officials have also sought to marginalize Europe from the peace process, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arguing that past European mediation efforts disqualify it from a role now .

The outcome of the Moscow meeting remains uncertain. While the Trump administration seeks a swift deal to end what it calls a "bloodbath," the path is fraught with mutually exclusive demands . Ukraine is unwilling to cede sovereignty, and Europe is determined to prevent a deal that legitimizes territorial conquest . Whether this unconventional diplomatic mission can bridge these vast divides will determine not only Ukraine's future but the stability of the post-war international order. Any agreement lacking the full endorsement of Kyiv and its European allies is unlikely to bring a durable peace.