Lucrezia Ciotti International diplomacy is once again moving to find a way out of the war in Ukraine. American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin , while Zelensky calls for greater European involvement and Tajani reiterates his call for a just peace. In the background, Russian attacks on Kiev continue.
Zelensky calls for Europe's involvement; Tajani is focusing on peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the need for Europe to actively participate in the diplomatic process. During a press conference in Dublin, where he is expected to meet with US emissaries, he declared: " Ending this war without Europe's participation would be unfair and, frankly, impossible ."
The Kiev leader nevertheless sees a concrete possibility of relaunching negotiations by the end of the year. Upon his arrival in Ireland, he spoke of a real " window of opportunity ," explaining that all the actors involved in the diplomatic confrontation appear intent on reaching a result before the end of 2026.
Zelensky also expressed the hope that Witkoff and Kushner would return from their talks with Putin with "concrete elements" to submit to the parties. Despite the mediation attempts, military tensions remain high: Russia launched ballistic missiles against Kyiv , causing several explosions in the capital around 1:00 a.m. local time (midnight Italian time). The alarm was preceded by the Ukrainian Air Force's announcement of the arrival of Russian missiles headed for the region. Subsequently, further explosions were reported in several areas northwest of the city, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also addressed the need for continued dialogue during the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the UniNettuno online university in Rome. The Foreign Minister welcomed the initial contacts initiated in Abu Dhabi between American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives, but emphasized that European involvement is not yet sufficient. " There is also a European presence, not yet as full as we would like, but a step forward has already been made ," he observed. For Tajani, the goal must be a solution that guarantees a just peace for Ukraine, without turning into a defeat for Kiev. " As politicians, we must pursue peace by encouraging dialogue ," he added, insisting that diplomacy must prevail over the use of arms.
In his speech, he also addressed other international scenarios, from Iran to Gaza and the West Bank, reiterating the importance of a solution based on the mutual recognition of two peoples and two states. Finally, he concluded with a reminder of the role of politics: " Woe betide those who don't dream, because if a politician doesn't dream, he becomes worse than any bureaucrat, someone who only seeks a seat ."
Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow, summit with Putin expected: truce sought in Ukraine
American mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport , where they were greeted by Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's special representative for investment and economic cooperation and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The visit by the two White House emissaries is part of diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to initial reports, Vladimir Putin is expected to receive them this morning to discuss negotiations and possible conditions for a truce. Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov announced that the meeting will proceed " as usual ," following the protocol established for this type of meeting.
A new American proposal regarding European security is also reportedly on the table in international diplomacy. According to Axios , citing two sources familiar with the matter, Washington has asked Moscow to develop a new plan for a security agreement with Europe , accompanied by Russian initiatives capable of reducing tensions on the continent. The Kremlin has long advocated for an agreement that limits NATO expansion and the Alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe. These requests, previously rejected by the United States, could now find space within a broader agreement to end the war. The proposal, however, is raising concerns among several European governments, concerned about the US administration's approach.