US envoy to meet Putin ‘next week’ to push Ukraine deal

Witkoff to present 28-point peace plan

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Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will send his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week as the US president seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that there were “only a few remaining points of disagreement” — but European leaders were sceptical, and Russian missiles continued to strike Ukraine.

He also expressed hope to meet “soon” with Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.”

Mr Trump later told journalists aboard Air Force One that his son-in-law Jared Kushner may join Mr Witkoff in Moscow.

Washington's 28-point proposal to end the war may have originated in a call between Mr Witkoff and Mr Putin’s foreign policy adviser, according to a transcription of their conversation Bloomberg reported it had obtained.

According to the transcript, Mr Witkoff advised the creation of a peace plan for Ukraine “just like we did in Gaza)’ and urged that Mr Putin bring it up with Mr Trump.