Lead
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting Dublin on his first official trip to Ireland, said on the afternoon of the talks that there is a “chance to end this war” while warning that key issues remain unresolved. On the same day a US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff, joined by Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin after the US presented an amended version of a previously circulated 28-point draft plan. Discussions center on territory, frozen Russian assets and security guarantees; Ireland announced an immediate support package and urged continued sanctions until occupation ends.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met or were scheduled to meet President Putin in Moscow after landing at Vnukovo airport; Kremlin said talks would start after 17:00 Moscow time (14:00 GMT) and last “as long as it takes.”
- Zelensky told reporters in Dublin he spoke with Witkoff the day before and is awaiting a report from the US on the Moscow meeting before deciding whether to engage further.
- Main sticking points identified by Kyiv are territorial concessions in Donbas and the use of frozen Russian assets held in Europe to fund Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.
- Ireland announced a €125m (£110m) increase in financial support: €100m for non-lethal military assistance and €25m for energy needs as part of a partnership agreement signed during Zelensky’s visit.
- Russian state outlets and the defence ministry claim gains around Pokrovsk, but open-source analysts and Ukrainian officials say control of the city remains unclear and contested.
- The original US 28-point draft plan was widely reported as favouring Moscow; the amended version presented in Moscow has not been made public at the time of reporting.
- Zelensky warned Moscow may use diplomacy to weaken sanctions; Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin reiterated that Russia “must never be allowed to succeed” and backed transferring frozen assets to Ukraine.
Background
Diplomatic pressure to end the Russia-Ukraine war intensified after the United States sent a 28-point draft plan to Kyiv that commentators and officials said appeared to lean toward concessions Moscow favors. That draft prompted follow-up discussions in Geneva and Florida between US and Ukrainian officials, and the involvement of private envoys on the Moscow track. Russia has pressed for Ukraine to cede control over parts of the Donbas region that Ukraine still holds, an outcome Kyiv says is unacceptable.
On the battlefield, fighting has continued along the Donetsk front, with both sides contesting control of cities such as Pokrovsk. Russian state media has distributed footage claiming advances, while independent open-source groups and Ukrainian sources describe many frontline areas as “grey zones” where neither side has full control. Sanctions and the handling of frozen Russian assets in Europe have emerged as central financial levers in the diplomatic contest.
Main Event
On the day of the meetings, a US motorcade carrying senior figures including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff was photographed near the Kremlin as Russian officials confirmed that talks with President Putin would begin after 17:00 Moscow time (14:00 GMT). Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the discussions would continue “as long as it takes,” and Russian state news agency TASS reported that Witkoff had been met at Vnukovo by Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Russian negotiator.
Meanwhile in Dublin, President Zelensky held a joint press conference with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Zelensky described the moment as both “challenging” and “optimistic,” saying Kyiv saw a possibility to end the war but that “some things still need to be worked out,” particularly around territory, frozen assets and security guarantees from the US and Europe.
Prime Minister Martin condemned what he called President Putin’s “complete indifference” to international law and announced a partnership agreement that increases Irish support by €125m, allocated as €100m for non-lethal military aid and €25m for energy. Martin explicitly endorsed the idea of using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction, aligning with Zelensky’s public call to use those funds.
On operational reporting from the frontline, Russia released footage claiming that its forces had flagged Pokrovsk, while analysts using open-source intelligence (OSINT) cautioned that control of the city remains contested. Ukrainian officials say their forces still hold parts of Pokrovsk and have disputed claims that the city is fully captured.
Analysis & Implications
The diplomatic dynamic combines formal state channels with high-profile private envoys, a mix that creates both opportunity and opacity. Private intermediaries such as Witkoff and Kushner can sometimes bridge political gaps more quickly than formal negotiations, but their involvement also raises questions about transparency and the exact terms being proposed. Kyiv has emphasized it will not accept deals decided without its full, public agreement.
Territorial concessions are the most sensitive element. For Russia to demand Ukrainian cession of portions of the Donbas that Kyiv still controls would constitute a major strategic and political loss for Ukraine; Kyiv has repeatedly said such outcomes are unacceptable. Any deal that leaves territorial ambiguity risks sowing the seeds of renewed conflict, especially if security guarantees are not robust and verifiable.
Frozen Russian assets are being discussed as a practical financing mechanism for Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction. Using those assets would require legal and political arrangements across multiple jurisdictions, and would likely face vigorous Russian opposition. For partners such as Ireland and other EU states, the decision balances legal precedent, effectiveness for Ukraine, and the political signal it sends about accountability for aggression.
Finally, battlefield developments will continue to shape bargaining power. While capture of individual towns like Pokrovsk would not alone determine the war’s outcome, incremental territorial gains can change perceptions of leverage and urgency on all sides — potentially prompting Kyiv to consider compromises it otherwise would reject, or hardening Kyiv’s resolve to fight.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland package | €125m (£110m) | €100m non-lethal military, €25m energy |
| Reported US draft | 28 points | Framework discussed with Kyiv; amended version shown in Moscow |
| Russian officials’ meeting time | After 17:00 Moscow (14:00 GMT) | Meetings expected to run as long as necessary |
The table places the new Irish package alongside two negotiation facts: the original 28-point US draft and the timing of the Moscow meetings. Ireland’s €125m package is immediate, earmarked for defence-related support and energy stability, while the US-led diplomatic track remains fluid with amendments not yet published. Battlefield claims such as those about Pokrovsk have been accompanied by open-source scrutiny, and analysts emphasize the distinction between staged media footage and verified control.
Reactions & Quotes
Irish and Ukrainian leaders framed the visit as a show of solidarity while warning that legal and security safeguards must be ironclad.
“It is high time to transfer them to Ukraine so we can reliably ensure both our defence and recovery.”
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
Zelensky’s appeal tied the use of frozen assets directly to defence and reconstruction funding. He also stressed that any progress depends on clear, enforceable security guarantees from the US and Europe.
“Putin must never be allowed to succeed.”
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland
Martin used strong language to underline Ireland’s stance and announced the new financial package, framing it as part of a broader international effort to hold Russia accountable.
Unconfirmed
- Claims that Pokrovsk is fully under Russian control remain unverified by independent sources; open-source analysts describe parts of the city as contested.
- The precise text of the amendments presented by the US delegation in Moscow has not been published, so the content and balance of the proposal are unclear.
- Long-term arrangements for seizing or reallocating frozen Russian assets have not been legally formalised and would require multilateral agreement.
Bottom Line
The Dublin press briefing and parallel Moscow meeting illustrate a diplomatic surge to find a settlement, but they also expose the core fault lines: territorial integrity, funding, and enforceable security guarantees. Kyiv is signalling openness to creative diplomacy while insisting that any agreement protect its sovereignty and be backed by verifiable guarantees from Western partners.
Short-term measures such as Ireland’s €125m package provide immediate material support and a political signal of solidarity, but they do not resolve the structural political questions at stake. Absent public disclosure of the Moscow amendments and clear mechanisms for security guarantees and asset transfers, prospects for a durable, just peace remain uncertain; battlefield developments in places like Pokrovsk will continue to shape bargaining power in the days ahead.