Trump Envoy Meets Putin to Discuss Ukraine Peace Plan, Crimea Recognition

Diplomatic Meeting in Moscow

• 🤝 Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's envoy, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
• 💬 The three-hour meeting was described by the Kremlin as constructive and very useful, focusing on a US plan to end the war in Ukraine.

US Peace Proposal Details

• 🇺🇸 The US peace proposal, presented by Witkoff, reportedly calls for formal US recognition of Russia's control over Crimea.
• ⚠️ This proposal has faced pushback, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating that recognizing Crimea as part of Russia would violate Ukraine's constitution.
• 🎯 Trump expressed optimism, telling reporters that a peace deal was close and his aim was to save lives.

Escalating Tensions and Attacks

• 💥 The meeting followed Ukrainian and European officials pushing back against some US proposals.
• 💔 Trump had previously criticized a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people.
• 🚗 In a separate incident, a car bomb killed a senior Russian military officer east of Moscow, with Russian war bloggers blaming Ukraine.
• ⚔️ Both Russia and Ukraine have not held direct talks since the early weeks of the war, which began in February 2022.