Russia x Ukraine peace talksDecember 31

NEW with @AlbertoNardelli • • — European and US officials are resigned to Russia’s war in Ukraine continuing into next year, acknowledging the latest Witkoff-Kushner peace initiative made no headway with Putin • • — Putin is intent on stepping up attacks on Ukraine through the winter, testing its resistance and the resolve of Kyiv’s allies, according to European officials familiar with the matter • • — Putin showed no sign of softening his positions despite recent US signalling to Moscow that new ideas are needed to revive stalled peace talks, the officials said • • — Russia’s plan for the next six months is to intensify strikes on Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure to try to make life unbearable for civilians, and to step up hybrid attacks and political interference in Europe to try to undermine support for Kyiv, one of the people said • • — Putin has bet that he can emerge next spring with a stronger hand while keeping Russia’s increasingly strained economy above water, the person said. Trilateral talks may resume after Russia’s State Duma elections but are unlikely to move the dial. Serious negotiations are unlikely until at least next year, said another person • • — Putin used the Witkoff-Kushner visit to project strength domestically ahead of the Duma elections, one of the people said. He kept the US delegation waiting until evening before meeting them, leaving Witkoff and Kushner to have an hours-long lunch with Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev at a Moscow restaurant, the person added • • — Ukraine’s allies must respond by prioritising supplies of air-defence interceptors to help Kyiv defend itself, the people said. The UK and others began to do so today, committing to providing Ukraine with more Patriot missiles before winter • •

NEW with @AlbertoNardelli • • — European and US officials are resigned to Russia’s war in Ukraine continuing into next year, acknowledging the latest Witkoff-Kushner peace initiative made no headway with Putin • • — Putin is intent on stepping up attacks on Ukraine through the winter, testing its resistance and the resolve of Kyiv’s allies, according to European officials familiar with the matter • • — Putin showed no sign of softening his positions despite recent US signalling to Moscow that new ideas are needed to revive stalled peace talks, the officials said • • — Russia’s plan for the next six months is to intensify strikes on Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure to try to make life unbearable for civilians, and to step up hybrid attacks and political interference in Europe to try to undermine support for Kyiv, one of the people said • • — Putin has bet that he can emerge next spring with a stronger hand while keeping Russia’s increasingly strained economy above water, the person said. Trilateral talks may resume after Russia’s State Duma elections but are unlikely to move the dial. Serious negotiations are unlikely until at least next year, said another person • • — Putin used the Witkoff-Kushner visit to project strength domestically ahead of the Duma elections, one of the people said. He kept the US delegation waiting until evening before meeting them, leaving Witkoff and Kushner to have an hours-long lunch with Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev at a Moscow restaurant, the person added • • — Ukraine’s allies must respond by prioritising supplies of air-defence interceptors to help Kyiv defend itself, the people said. The UK and others began to do so today, committing to providing Ukraine with more Patriot missiles before winter • •

Witkoff touts ‘substantive progress’ after peace talks with Ukraine, Russia

A renewed push to end the war in Ukraine is underway as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner return from back-to-back talks with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying they are "feeling good" about the prospects for peace. • • Kushner says President Trump has tasked the pair with creating a peace package and that they will do everything they can to end the war for good. • • However, major hurdles remain. Russia and Ukraine continue exchanging strikes, while Zelenskyy says any agreement must end the war on fair terms.

Peace talks rich in symbolism but fundamental differences between Russia and Ukraine remain

Ukraine peace talks "restart," but are expected to be difficult with no good solution in sight; Russia is aiming for practical gains.