Diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine are reaching a new level of intensity, as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to visit Moscow next week for high-stakes talks. The move comes amid a swirl of controversy and skepticism, with leaked transcripts raising pointed questions about Witkoff’s role as a mediator and the direction of the proposed peace plan. Yet, with both hope and doubt in the air, leaders from Washington to Kyiv and across Europe are weighing in on what could be a turning point—or another false dawn—in the conflict that has shaken the region since 2022.
According to the Associated Press, Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, that Witkoff’s visit to Moscow is imminent, as momentum builds behind efforts to reach a consensus on ending the war. However, Ushakov was quick to clarify that while the Kremlin has seen a copy of the initial U.S. peace proposal—obtained through back channels—they have not officially received the plan. “Contact is ongoing, including via telephone, but no one has yet sat down at a roundtable and discussed this point by point. That hasn’t happened,” Ushakov told Russian state media.
This latest round of diplomacy follows earlier talks in the United Arab Emirates involving representatives from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. The flurry of meetings and phone calls underscores the urgency felt on all sides, but also the complexity of the issues at stake. Ukrainian officials, for their part, declined to confirm whether U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll—who has recently played a prominent role in the peace efforts—would be in Kyiv in the coming days, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s indication to that effect.
The peace plan itself, made public in mid-November, has raised eyebrows in Kyiv and among Ukraine’s European allies. The initial version, as reported by Reuters, appeared to lean heavily toward Russian demands, including halting Moscow’s invasion, barring Ukraine’s NATO entry, enshrining Russian control over a significant portion of Ukrainian territory, and limiting the size of Ukraine’s armed forces. These details caught many in Washington, Europe, and Kyiv off guard, stoking anxiety that the U.S. might be willing to push Ukraine to accept terms seen as overly favorable to Moscow.
After weekend talks in Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a cautious but open tone, telling reporters the plan could be “workable,” though key points remain unresolved. Zelenskyy also expressed hope to meet with Trump in the coming days, signaling a willingness to keep the door open for negotiation while insisting that Ukraine’s interests must not be sidelined.
Witkoff’s role in the peace process has come under a renewed spotlight, especially after leaked transcripts revealed he had advised Ushakov on how Russian President Vladimir Putin should present the peace plan to Trump. The leak, first reported by Bloomberg and cited across major outlets, has led to criticism from both sides of the Atlantic. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, brushed aside concerns, calling Witkoff’s approach “a very standard form of negotiation. He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia. That’s what a deal maker does.”
However, not everyone is convinced. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian state news agency Tass, downplayed the significance of the leaked call, but cautioned, “It’s clear that there will be a very large number of people in various countries, including the United States, who will try to disrupt these efforts toward peace.” Asked whether a peace agreement is closer than ever, Peskov replied, “It’s a little too early to say that.”
Russia’s official stance remains firm. On November 26, a senior Russian diplomat told Reuters there would be “no big concessions” on the peace plan, echoing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s statement: “There can be no question of any concessions, or any surrender of our approaches to those key points.” The Kremlin’s position is clear—Moscow will not retreat from its core demands, even as it signals a willingness to engage in dialogue.
Meanwhile, the violence on the ground continues to cast a long shadow over the diplomatic maneuvering. On the night of November 25–26, the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia suffered a large Russian drone attack, damaging more than 50 residential buildings, including a university dormitory filled with people, according to regional military administration head Ivan Fedorov. At least 19 people were wounded in the attack, the Associated Press reported. In response, Russian air defenses downed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight over various Russian regions and the Black Sea, while Ukrainian forces struck a manufacturing plant in Cheboksary, western Russia, that produces equipment for cruise and ballistic missiles.
As Washington takes the lead in negotiations, Europe is fighting to ensure its voice is heard. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin, “But an agreement negotiated by great powers without the approval of the Ukrainians and without the approval of the Europeans won’t be a basis for a real, sustainable peace in Ukraine. Europe is not a plaything, but a sovereign actor for its own interests and values.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a cautiously optimistic note, saying there is “an opportunity here to make real progress” toward peace. She insisted, however, that any settlement must include future security guarantees for Ukraine and must not impose limits on Ukraine’s armed forces or block its path to NATO membership. “There can be no limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks,” von der Leyen told the European Parliament. “This is as much about deterrence as it is about Europe’s security, because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security.”
Yet skepticism remains strong. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, voiced doubt about Russia’s willingness to engage in genuine peace talks. “Right now, we see zero indication that Russia is ready for a ceasefire. Russia is not winding down its military machine, but ramping it up,” Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. She called for additional pressure on Moscow, including more economic sanctions and the seizure of Russia’s frozen assets, declaring, “We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.”
Back in Washington, the peace plan and the controversy over Witkoff’s role have even drawn criticism from within President Trump’s own Republican Party. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick described the Witkoff call as “a major problem,” while Senator Mitch McConnell warned, “A deal that rewards aggression wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s written on. America isn’t a neutral arbiter, and we shouldn’t act like one.”
With Witkoff’s visit to Moscow on the horizon, the coming days may prove pivotal. The stakes are enormous—not just for Ukraine and Russia, but for the entire international order that has been tested by this grinding conflict. As diplomatic channels buzz and the world watches, the prospect of peace remains tantalizingly out of reach, but perhaps, just perhaps, a little closer than before.
