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The political push to end the conflict in Ukraine could be entering a "pivotal week," the EU's foreign policy chief has remarked, as a representative for former President Donald Trump gears up to meet Vladimir Putin after recent talks with Ukrainian officials.

Representative Amid Controversial Links with Russia Set for Talks

Steve Witkoff, the property developer now serving as envoy, is due to confer with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, as announced by. Witkoff was recently exposed for instructing Russian officials on ways to gain Trump's backing.

"It could be a pivotal week for negotiations," said the EU's top diplomat, while stressing it was "obvious that Russia is not interested in peace."

Zelenskyy's European Push for Support

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy undertook a mission to rally support from Ukraine's European friends. He held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday to talk over "the conditions of a fair and lasting peace," as stated by.

The Ukrainian leader is also scheduled to make his initial diplomatic trip to Ireland on Tuesday. Simultaneously, his defense chief, Denys Shmyhal, was in Brussels on Monday for discussions with his EU counterparts.

Concern over American Talks

The EU official expressed concern that Europeans were not represented in weekend talks held in Florida between the US and Ukraine, which she described as "tough but constructive." In response to a question about trusting the US to find a positive resolution for Ukraine, she noted, "Ukraine's representatives are there by themselves. If they would be together with the Europeans, they would definitely be far more powerful."

Writing on the platform X, Zelenskyy stated the US talks had been "highly productive" but that there were "some tough issues that still have to be resolved."

Anxiety over US Proposals

European leaders were previously concerned by a US plan that emerged last month, which was seen as skewed in Russia's interest. Its alleged terms included ceding Moscow territories in eastern Ukraine it did not yet control, forcing Kyiv to cap the size of its army, and renouncing its ambition to join NATO. While that original plan has reportedly been modified, Witkoff's upcoming visit to Moscow—his sixth face-to-face meeting with Putin—is likely to fuel concern in Kyiv and across European governments.

Witkoff is expected to fly to Russia on Monday, with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to advance negotiations. Kushner previously played an prominent role in negotiations over a Gaza peace deal. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Kushner would too attend the talks with Putin.

Weekend Discussions and Political Pressure

The two close Trump envoys were involved in the Florida talks between senior Ukrainian and US officials, which took place at a private golf club built by Witkoff's company.

After the session, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism for an end to the war. "More work to be done. This is delicate," Rubio said. "There are a lot of complexities, and obviously there's another side involved here... that will have to be a part of the process."

Amid the diplomatic challenges, President Zelenskyy is facing internal strain following the unexpected resignation of his head of cabinet and top aide, Andriy Yermak. The resignation came in the wake of a expanding anti-corruption investigation that has become the most serious scandal of Zelenskyy's time in office.