US ENVOY ARRIVES IN RUSSIA FOR TALKS WITH PUTIN ON ENDING UKRAINE WAR

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin on proposals to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting follows discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo, where participants reported progress on peace efforts. Ukraine says intelligence sharing with the US has improved but continues to seek stronger security guarantees, military support and reliable Starlink access. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to kill civilians, while disagreements over occupied territory and future security arrangements remain major obstacles to a peace agreement.

WASHINGTON SEEKS PROGRESS ON PEACE PROPOSALS

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin as Washington intensifies efforts to find a possible end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The meeting follows discussions in Oslo, Norway, between Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which a US official described as productive and constructive. The talks involved American, Ukrainian and European representatives seeking agreement on possible steps towards ending the conflict.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who participated in the Oslo discussions, said genuine progress had been made but offered few details about the proposals. He cautioned that achieving peace would require patience.
US officials said there was strong agreement among working-level representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Europe on the next steps. However, the proposals still require a response from Moscow, making Witkoff’s meeting with Putin an important stage in the diplomatic process.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was prepared to listen to the American envoy but ruled out making political concessions.

UKRAINE REPORTS IMPROVED INTELLIGENCE SHARING WITH US

The diplomatic efforts come after weeks of tension between Washington and Kyiv over American military support.
Ukraine had previously accused the United States of withholding important intelligence, a claim Washington strongly rejected. However, Zelensky said on Tuesday that intelligence sharing relating to Russian missile attacks was now working.
He thanked the American side for providing early warnings that could help Ukrainian authorities prepare for incoming ballistic missiles and protect civilians, including children.
Such warnings are important because ballistic missiles can travel at high speeds, leaving limited time for air defence systems and emergency services to respond.
Zelensky also expressed hope for progress over Ukraine’s access to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. Ukrainian forces rely on the network for battlefield communications and drone operations, and reported speed restrictions have raised concerns about its military effectiveness.
The issue has attracted attention in Washington, where a bipartisan group of senators has called for an urgent investigation into the reported restrictions.

TRUMP INCREASES PRESSURE ON KYIV TO REACH A DEAL

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war, while expressing frustration with Kyiv’s military actions against Russian energy facilities.
Trump has also questioned Zelensky’s leadership and suggested that someone else should negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf. His comments have contributed to uncertainty about the future of US support for the country.
The American president has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for contributing to rising fuel prices, which have also been affected by wider energy market disruptions.
Speaking at the White House, Trump again insisted that Ukraine should make a deal, arguing that Russia was also interested in ending the conflict.
However, Ukraine faces a difficult choice. Negotiations could offer a path towards reducing casualties and destruction, but Kyiv wants any agreement to protect its sovereignty and prevent Russia from launching another invasion in the future.

UKRAINE DEMANDS STRONG SECURITY GUARANTEES

Zelensky said Ukraine remained ready for negotiations but stressed that the country was continuing to resist Russian attacks.
He said discussions in Oslo included strong security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for an energy ceasefire. Such an arrangement could potentially reduce attacks on energy infrastructure, which are important to civilian life and economic stability.
Ukraine wants assurances that any peace agreement would not leave it vulnerable to renewed Russian aggression. European leaders have similarly argued that security arrangements must be credible and that Europe should participate in decisions affecting the continent’s future.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stressed that Europe needed to be involved in negotiations over how the war should end.
The question of security guarantees remains central because a ceasefire without an effective system to deter future attacks could provide only temporary relief.

RUSSIAN ATTACKS CONTINUE AS DIPLOMACY ADVANCES

Despite the diplomatic activity, Russian drone and missile attacks have continued to cause casualties across Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials reported that at least 10 people were killed on Tuesday in attacks affecting Kyiv and its surrounding region, the eastern Donetsk region and the central city of Dnipro.
Another overnight attack killed two people near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.
The continuing attacks underline the urgency of negotiations, as civilians remain exposed to bombardment while governments discuss possible ways to end the conflict.
Ukraine also remains concerned about the availability of American made Patriot interceptor missiles, which are particularly important for defending against Russian ballistic missiles. Reports indicated that the transfer of additional interceptors had not yet been approved, although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said nothing had been deliberately withheld from Kyiv.
Any shortage of air defence equipment could leave Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure more vulnerable to further attacks.

EUROPEAN LEADERS WORRY ABOUT UNCERTAINTY IN US POLICY

European governments have expressed concern about mixed messages coming from Washington over its approach to Russia and Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was working to persuade the American government that the conflict needed to be addressed jointly. He noted the substantial financial burden European countries were carrying to support Ukraine and maintain its defence.
US Vice President JD Vance has also emphasised that Washington and Kyiv do not always share the same interests. He questioned the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO and criticised Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
These differences highlight the difficulty of maintaining a common strategy among countries supporting Ukraine while trying to negotiate with Moscow.
For Ukraine, continued American intelligence, weapons and technological support remain important to its defence. For Europe, the outcome will have major implications for continental security, military spending and relations with Russia.

PUTIN’S RESPONSE COULD SHAPE THE NEXT STAGE OF PEACE EFFORTS

Witkoff’s meeting with Putin is expected to test whether Moscow is willing to engage seriously with the proposals discussed in Oslo.
Putin had not publicly commented on the latest developments at the time of the report. Russia currently controls about 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory following its full scale invasion in February 2022.
The central challenges include the future of occupied Ukrainian land, security guarantees, military support and whether both sides can agree to a ceasefire.
Although the recent meetings have raised hopes of diplomatic progress, no final agreement has been announced. The outcome will depend on whether Russia, Ukraine, the United States and European governments can bridge their differences while addressing the security concerns of the countries involved.
For now, the war continues on the battlefield even as diplomats search for a settlement that could bring an end to years of fighting and loss of life.