In a surprising diplomatic maneuver, the administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing for another round of peace negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict, according to CNN. The move involves special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer turned unofficial diplomat, who has already held three meetings this year with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The latest development follows reports of a confidential US peace proposal, allegedly presented to both Ukrainian officials and European leaders during a high-level meeting in Paris on April 17. According to anonymous sources cited by CNN, the plan includes a ceasefire along the current front lines and a dramatic shift in US policy, the potential recognition of Crimea and other Russian-controlled territories as part of the Russian Federation.

While the Biden administration continues to maintain official US support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the Trump team’s actions appear to suggest a different path – one rooted in what they describe as “realpolitik” and an attempt to end a war that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.

Steve Witkoff, whose previous government experience was limited before stepping into his current role as an informal Trump envoy, has quickly become a central figure in this unconventional peace effort. Following nearly five hours of talks with Putin in Moscow on April 11, Witkoff told Fox News that the discussion was “compelling” and that the Kremlin was “genuinely seeking a lasting solution.”

He suggested that both Russia and Ukraine “might be on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world at large.” According to Witkoff, a potential agreement would include the formal recognition of Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as Russian territory – a stance that contradicts long-standing US and international policy.

The response from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was swift and scathing. On April 18, he condemned Witkoff’s statements, accusing Trump’s representative of “wittingly or unwittingly spreading Russian narratives.” Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s position that it “will never recognize any temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian.”

The sharp disagreement underscores how far apart the two sides remain, even as diplomatic overtures continue. While Moscow has stated it is open to negotiations, it has consistently demanded that Kyiv renounce its aspirations to join NATO and acknowledge what the Kremlin calls the “territorial realities on the ground.”

The Trump team’s approach, if confirmed, marks a stark departure from the Biden administration’s strategy, which emphasizes continued military and financial support for Ukraine until Russian forces fully withdraw. Trump has long criticized the cost of US aid to Kyiv and has called for a more pragmatic engagement with Moscow.

The Paris meeting reportedly included envoys from several European capitals, many of whom expressed concern over the terms of the proposed ceasefire. Recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territories would mark a dramatic geopolitical realignment and would likely fracture Western consensus on the conflict.

However, CNN reports that some European leaders were at least willing to listen, given the deteriorating situation on the battlefield, ongoing civilian suffering, and the strain on European economies.

Russian officials have welcomed the talks cautiously. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the contact with the Trump envoy, describing it as “constructive and substantive,” but clarified that “no clear outlines of any agreement” had yet emerged.

Moscow has emphasized that it is not interested in a mere “freezing” of the conflict, a solution which the Kremlin sees as a potential staging ground for future hostilities. Instead, Russia is demanding security guarantees and recognition of its territorial gains.

President Putin himself appeared to make a goodwill gesture on April 19, when he announced a temporary Easter truce effective from 18:00 Moscow time through midnight on April 20. The ceasefire was presented as a test of Ukraine’s sincerity in seeking peace. Putin accused Kyiv of having “violated the agreement on pausing energy infrastructure strikes more than a hundred times” and said Ukraine’s response would reveal its true intentions.

Critics of the Trump team’s approach argue that recognizing Russia’s territorial claims would be tantamount to rewarding aggression and could embolden further military expansion. Zelensky’s administration, along with many in Europe, fear that such concessions would undermine the post-World War II international order.

Yet the Trump camp argues that continuing the war indefinitely is unsustainable. In private discussions, according to reports, Trump advisors have stressed that a ceasefire – even if it leaves Russia with significant territorial gains – would bring stability and reduce the likelihood of a wider conflict.

The potential re-engagement of Trump on the international stage, even in an unofficial capacity, complicates an already volatile diplomatic landscape. With US presidential election approaching and Trump leading in many Republican primary polls, the president’s team may be laying the groundwork for a return to power – and a radically different approach to US foreign policy.

The next meeting between Witkoff and Russian officials is said to be scheduled for late April or early May. While the outcome remains uncertain, the very existence of these backchannel talks reflects the desperation for a resolution – or at least a pause – in a war that has now lasted more than two years.

Still, any move toward peace will face fierce resistance not just from Kyiv, but also from many corners of Washington and Brussels. If Trump’s envoy is indeed promoting a framework that legitimizes Russian occupation, the backlash could be immense – not just diplomatically, but politically, especially within a deeply divided American electorate.

Whether the initiative is a bold leap toward peace or a naive concession to authoritarian expansionism depends largely on what happens next – and whether either side is truly ready to stop the fighting.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings