Overview

• US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for the fourth round of peace talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war.
• The US is demanding that Ukraine retain the right to develop its military and defense industry, a stance that clashes with Russia’s insistence on demilitarization.
• Proposals under discussion include recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and freezing current battle lines, which would leave Russia in control of significant Ukrainian territory.
• The meeting follows renewed Russian missile and drone strikes after the expiration of a temporary Easter truce and Trump’s public appeal for an end to the bombings.
• The Kremlin released a video of the meeting, highlighting the high-profile nature of the ongoing diplomatic efforts.