Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Progress and Controversies

The article discusses the ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, with a focus on the recent talks in Geneva and the evolving positions of various parties involved. Despite initial concerns over a leaked US 28-point plan, Ukrainian officials are cautiously optimistic, and European leaders are working to strengthen security guarantees for Ukraine. However, significant differences remain between Ukraine and Russia on key issues such as territory, NATO membership, and war crimes accountability.

US President Donald Trump has defended his special envoy Steve Witkoff after a leaked recording appeared to show him advising a Russian official on how to appeal to Trump. The leaked call from last month showed Witkoff suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, should congratulate Trump on a peace achievement to improve their phone call. Trump stated that Witkoff was doing the 'standard thing' in negotiations and that the leaked audio represented a 'very standard form of negotiations'. The 28-point draft peace plan, presented by the US, largely reflected Russian positions on ending its full-scale war in Ukraine, but has since been revised to better reflect Ukraine's interests.

The Kremlin has downplayed expectations of a nearing peace deal with Ukraine, contradicting the optimism expressed by US President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that it's 'premature' to say whether a resolution is close, while a Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, had previously expressed a more positive tone regarding the US-backed proposal. The US and Ukraine had reportedly agreed on a peace deal, but Russia's response appears to contradict this optimism. Trump claimed that negotiators had made 'tremendous progress' and that US special envoy Steve Witkoff would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to finalize the plan.

The article criticizes Donald Trump's proposed 28-point peace plan for the war in Ukraine, calling it vague, unbalanced, and impractical. The author argues that the plan would be detrimental to Ukraine, Europe, and America, representing a mix of opportunism and strategic myopia. The article emphasizes the need for Ukraine and Europe to take control of their destiny to avoid an unjust peace.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Moscow may reject the White House's latest Ukraine peace deal framework if it doesn't uphold the 'spirit and letter' of the understandings reached at the August Alaska summit between President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The US is awaiting Russia's response to the updated peace plan, which aims to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Russia has maintained its maximalist demands, including barring Ukraine from joining NATO and requiring Ukraine to give up the rest of the Donbas. Experts are skeptical about the prospects of a peace deal, citing Russia's intransigence and the lack of leverage to compel Moscow to halt its invasion.

President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia are making progress in peace talks, but the conflict remains difficult to resolve. Trump made these comments while speaking to reporters on Air Force One, highlighting the role of U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is set to engage in further talks in Moscow. The Trump administration's 28-point peace plan, presented to U.S. lawmakers, was described by some as a 'wish list' for Russia, but Trump downplayed it as 'just a map.' Trump emphasized that Europe is playing a significant role in ensuring security guarantees for Ukraine and that there is no deadline for securing a deal, stating that the deadline is 'when it's over.'

Former US President Donald Trump stated that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is finalized. Trump claimed that his team has made 'tremendous progress' in negotiations over the past week, with only a few remaining points of disagreement. Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Putin in Moscow, while Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will meet with Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France and its EU partners are close to finalizing a plan to support Ukraine and secure a 'serious' and lasting peace rooted in international law.

The article discusses US envoy Steve Witkoff's involvement in drafting a US-backed peace proposal for Ukraine, which had significant Russian influence. Witkoff's interactions with Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin's senior adviser Yuri Ushakov, have raised concerns about his loyalty and the potential catastrophic consequences of his actions. The article criticizes Witkoff's role and Trump's continued involvement in the peace talks, suggesting that it strengthens Moscow's threat to Ukraine and Western Europe.

One of two West Virginia National Guard members shot in Washington D.C. on November 26, 2025, has been identified as Andrew Wolfe. Wolfe, an alumnus of Musselman High School, is in critical condition after being shot by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, near the Farragut West Metro Station. The incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack. Community members and friends have rallied around Wolfe and his family on social media, expressing their support and concern.

The article discusses a leaked transcript of a phone call between US envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which showed Witkoff coaching the Kremlin on how to negotiate with President Trump and undermine an upcoming visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The leak sparked controversy in Washington, with critics arguing that Trump's efforts to engage with Putin are misguided and beneficial to Russia. Despite months of false starts and rejections by Putin, Trump remains determined to make a deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, a move that has caused dissent among Republicans and concern among European allies and Ukrainians.