Ukraine developments: US diplomatic efforts, Putin’s accusations, and European divisions

Pars Today - As the US government moves toward negotiations with Russia, presenting a robust proposal and claiming a 50% share of Ukraine’s reconstruction profits, Moscow blames the West for starting the war, while Europe’s seizure of Russian assets undermines Washington’s peace efforts.

The Ukraine crisis has entered a critical stage: the US is rapidly moving toward direct talks with Russia, while Europe remains divided over the use of frozen Russian assets. Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed progress in talks with the US but continues to accuse the West of instigating the war. Germany has positioned itself as the guarantor of Kyiv’s future security, complicating the balance of power in peace negotiations.

US Initiative: Proposal and reconstruction plan

According to Axios, the Trump administration has prepared a strong package to resolve the Ukraine crisis and plans to present it to Russia soon. Politico reported that possible negotiations are scheduled for December 20–21 in Miami, involving US representatives Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Russian official Kirill Dmitriev. However, the likelihood of an agreement acceptable to Kyiv is considered low. The US seeks a 50% share of profits from Ukrainian reconstruction projects, managed by Witkoff and Kushner. The Washington Post reports that Trump has pressured Europe to use frozen Russian assets for loans to Ukraine, a move that could spark significant tensions.

Russia welcomes talks despite accusations against the West

At a Russian Defense Ministry meeting, Putin accused the West of escalating tensions and attempting to destroy Russia, claiming that such a situation would not have occurred if Trump had been US president in 2022. At the same time, he welcomed progress in negotiations with the new US administration and emphasized continued cooperation.

US–Europe rift on peace efforts

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Europe’s seizure of Russian assets undermines constructive efforts by the US president to achieve peace. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Europe’s “military bias,” claiming Brussels is obstructing Russia–US talks. China also opposes using Russian assets. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Berlin should guarantee Ukraine’s security after a ceasefire but remained silent on German troop involvement.

Overall, current developments highlight a growing rift between the US and Europe over the approach to peace, while Russia welcomes the US initiative.