Kremlin confirms receipt of US-Ukraine peace framework ahead of talks with Trump envoy

The Kremlin is set to evaluate a new diplomatic proposal aimed at halting the hostilities in Ukraine, with high-level discussions involving a Washington envoy scheduled for the coming days in Moscow.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, confirmed on Friday that Moscow is now in possession of the "updated and refined peace framework" recently formulated by officials in Kyiv and Washington.

"These details have been passed onto us, yes, and there will be a discussion in Moscow next week," Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing, noting that the administration would provide further details on the timing of the meetings in due course.

The Trump Administration’s Push
The review of the proposals coincides with the anticipated arrival of Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Witkoff, a real estate investor and long-time associate of the American president, is expected to meet directly with President Vladimir Putin.

The visit represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts. Since assuming office earlier this year, President Trump has repeatedly emphasised a desire to negotiate an end to the conflict, which is now approaching its fourth winter. The "Geneva format"—where U.S. and Ukrainian officials reportedly drafted this latest framework—appears to be the primary vehicle for these renewed peace efforts.

Putin’s Tentative Approval
Speaking on Thursday following a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, President Putin signaled a tentative willingness to engage with the new terms.

Addressing the media, the Russian leader suggested that the outline draft proposals could potentially become the "basis" of future agreements to end the war. However, he maintained his customary hardline stance, warning that if the terms were deemed unfavourable or if they ignored Russia's core security demands, his forces were prepared to "fight on".

A War of Attrition
The potential diplomatic breakthrough comes at a critical juncture. By late 2025, the conflict has largely settled into a grinding war of attrition, with static frontlines imposing heavy costs on both Russia and Ukraine.

While the specifics of the "refined framework" remain classified, analysts suggest the document likely addresses the most contentious sticking points: the status of occupied territories, Ukraine's potential neutrality or security guarantees, and the roadmap for lifting Western sanctions.

For the international community, next week's meeting between Putin and Witkoff will be viewed as a litmus test for whether a negotiated settlement is truly within reach, or if the fighting is destined to continue into 2026.

Copied