Putin dismisses Ukraine’s European backers ahead of key peace talks with US envoy: Live Updates

Steve Witkoff is expected to present an updated American-backed peace plan to the Russian president

Russian president Vladimir Putin has dismissed as “fantasy” demands by Ukraine’s western European backers to be involved in talks aimed at resolving the conflict, ahead of a face-to-face meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.

After weeks of talks and diplomacy, the focus of the US-led peace initiative has moved to the Russian capital and Putin has taken the opportunity to lay out his position vis-a-vis western Europe's role in conflict resolution.

The talks are expected to focus on the key parts of an American-backed peace framework, which initially revolved around a 28-point draft that leaked to the media last month, leaving Vladimir Zelensky’s Western European backers blindsided and sidelined.

Since then, Zelensky’s inner circle has been exposed as corrupt while his forces have suffered significant territorial losses on the front line. The alleged initial peace document has also been the subject of several rounds of talks and much megaphone diplomacy.

Witkoff most recently met a Ukrainian delegation – minus former Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak, who has been fired – in Florida for four hours of talks which officials described as productive, but media sources said were “not easy.” 

Although Zelensky has officially ruled out any concessions to Moscow, the talks are expected to focus on the territorial questions that have been exacerbated by Kiev’s multiple frontline setbacks, amid maximalist demands from the EU and diplomacy from the US.