Zelensky Warns US: Don’t Reward Russia as Trump Envoy Prepares to Meet Putin

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, travelled to Paris to press European allies for support and cautioned the United States against offering concessions that could be perceived as rewarding Russia for its invasion. His remarks came as US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff prepared to travel to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Jared Kushner.

Zelensky held last-minute phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before the envoy departed. At a press conference in Paris he warned: "We need to ensure that Russia itself does not perceive anything it could consider as a reward for this war."

Negotiations and the 28‑point plan

Ukrainian and US officials spent the weekend in Miami refining a proposed framework that could be presented to Moscow. The draft — a previously circulated 28‑point plan — included measures that critics say would have required Ukraine to cede control of Russia‑backed areas of Donbas and accept strict limitations on its armed forces after a ceasefire.

Kyiv has worked to soften those provisions and deliberately left the most contentious items unresolved, including territorial swaps and restrictions on hosting NATO forces, with the expectation these topics would be addressed in any direct talks between President Zelensky and President Trump.

European unity and regional concerns

President Macron emphasised that any territorial settlement must have Kyiv’s and its European partners’ agreement. "There is currently no finalised plan on the territorial issues, strictly speaking. It can only be finalised by President Zelensky," Macron said, adding that issues such as frozen assets, security guarantees, EU accession and sanctions require European involvement.

A wide group of European leaders — including the prime ministers of the UK, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands, together with the EU and NATO chiefs — held a video call with Zelensky to express coordinated support. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned it would be against European interests to force Kyiv to accept terms negotiated solely between the US envoy and Moscow.

Ukraine’s red lines and battlefield context

Ukrainian negotiators, led by national security adviser Rustem Umerov, described the Miami talks as making "significant progress" on some issues while leaving others unresolved. Kyiv’s delegation has publicly refused to agree to withdraw forces from Donetsk or to abandon aspirations for NATO membership as conditions for a ceasefire.

On the ground, Russian forces made notable gains in November, capturing about 701 sq km (270 sq miles) and controlling, fully or partially, roughly 19.3% of Ukrainian territory by month’s end. Russia also launched a missile strike on the central city of Dnipro that killed four civilians and injured around 40 more.

Broader security implications

Analysts point to a wider pattern of incidents — including unexplained drone disruptions at European airports and the presence of a Russian spy ship in British waters — that appear intended to deter Western support for Ukraine. NATO’s military committee chairman, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, said the alliance is considering more proactive measures, describing the possibility of being "more aggressive or...proactive instead of reactive" as a potential defensive posture.

As the US envoy prepares to meet Putin, Western leaders face the challenge of presenting a united stance that secures Kyiv’s agreement without appearing to reward aggression. The coming diplomatic exchanges in Moscow and Europe will be pivotal for whether a settlement protects Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.