Zelenskyy meets with Macron, as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Moscow – Europe live | Ukraine

Last week there was a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

While Kiev tries to minimize Vladimir Putin’s maximalist demands, including the containment of eastern regions The Guardian’s Russia affairs correspondent Pjotr ​​Sauer explains why, despite some progress, a peace deal still looks unlikely.

Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just arrived at the Élysée Palace, greeted by Macron with a big, big hug.

timings have changed slightly The couple is expected to make a press statement in the afternoon.

I will follow this issue closely and keep you informed of the latest developments.

Kremlin says Putin will host US Witkoff in Ukraine talks on Tuesday

Pjotr ​​Sauer

Russian affairs correspondent

Vladimir Putin is set to meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday afternoon, the Kremlin announced Monday morning.

Jared KushnerDonald Trump’s son-in-law and Witkoff like that He is expected to fly to Russia on Monday To continue peace talks aimed at ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Putin’s spokesman did not make a statement about whether Kushner, who played an active role in the Gaza peace agreement negotiations, would also attend the meeting.

Two of Trump’s trusted envoys met with a high-level Ukrainian delegation on Sunday No progress appears to have been made in what US officials described as a “productive” meeting.

Witkoff’s visit to Moscow will be his sixth face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader and possibly in Kiev and European capitals, concerns about the real estate developer’s past comments are likely to grow. I sympathize with the Kremlin.

Last week, Bloomberg published the transcript of a leaked phone call between Witkoff and a senior Kremlin aide; In that call, Witkoff appeared to be coaching the Kremlin on the best way to win Trump’s favor.

Meanwhile, Vilnius Airport was forced to temporarily suspend its operations once again last night due to suspicion of balloons in the airspace, a recurring problem in recent weeks.

During the 11-hour downtime, As many as 57 balloons were reported, According to Lithuanian media. More than 50 flights affected It disrupted the journey of more than 7,000 passengers.

Lithuania has repeatedly accused Belarus of allowing smugglers to use balloons. It briefly closed both crossing points into the neighboring country, primarily to transport smuggled cigarettes and in retaliation.

Deputy defense minister who attended today’s Brussels talks Karolis Aleksa explains that the problem is “in this intense, active phase [has been going on] “for a few months” He emphasized that this was a “hybrid activity against Lithuania.”

he said It was not acceptable, And Lithuania was considering taking “national measures on how to deal with this situation.” Including “trying to confront” balloons.

But he also said this The Baltic country would press for “political pressure” in response.

We attended the ministerial meeting in Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said this week could be “very important” for Ukrainian diplomacy.

“It is clear that Russia does not want peace, and thereforeWe must make Ukraine as strong as possible so that they can stand on their own feet “In this very, very difficult time,” he said.

“We heard that the talks in America yesterday were difficult but productive,” Kallas said, adding that he wanted to discuss the latest developments with the EU and Ukrainian ministers.

He appeared Disappointed by Europe’s exclusion from key negotiations, they acknowledged that “the Ukrainians are alone there” – but he insisted The EU should continue to put pressure on two key areas: “More sanctions on Russia, putting pressure on the reparations loans they so fear, and… [giving] “We are providing them with military, financial and humanitarian support so they can hold out and outlast Russia.”

Zelenskyy faces ‘mini-revolution’ in governance system after Yermak’s shock resignation

Shaun Walker

During the weekend, Ukrainian Zelenskyy had to respond to the forced resignation of his closest and most senior adviser, Andriy Yermak. He resigned on Friday after his office was searched as part of a widening anti-corruption investigation.

At work Shaun Walker commit the change:

Yermak’s resignation could have huge consequences for internal governance, as well as for Ukraine’s negotiating stance in negotiations with Russia on ending the war. He served as head of the Ukrainian delegation in peace talks with the White House.

“His A mini revolution in the political system and the governance system,” said the Kyiv-based political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. “Yermak was a key element of the power system established by Zelensky.”

Yermak, a former intellectual property lawyer, became a B-movie producer and then a lawyer for Zelenskyy’s production company. When Zelenskyy was still an actor. When his friend triumphed in the 2019 presidential election, Yermak entered politics with him, first as a foreign policy advisor and then as chief of staff a year later.

As Yermak got closer to the president during the years of all-out war, he became untouchable. He carried out the most sensitive tracks of Ukraine’s foreign policy, meeting regularly with the national security advisors of the allied countries, and took charge of the team working on peace negotiations.

He was also Zelenskyy’s chief political adjuster. he frequently gave orders to ministers and was widely seen as the embodiment of the president’s will. It was Yermak who traveled to London to meet with former military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi, widely seen as Zelenskyy’s most threatening political rival, and invited Zaluzhnyi to join Zelenskyy’s team.

Few among the Ukrainian elite liked Yermak. but many expressed grudging admiration for his work ethic and ruthless schemes. Some felt that the level of control, unusual in a democracy, was justified by the wartime context. Moreover, His role as a hate figure often helped protect Zelenskyy.

Even when Yermak’s apartment was searched on FridayI was expecting this to unseat him, A broad understanding has developed that Zelenskyy is unlikely to sacrifice his most trusted lieutenant at any cost.

Although Yermak was not facing any charges at this point, the anti-corruption investigation was in danger of overwhelming the news agenda and sparking a full-blown crisis, amid growing public dissatisfaction with corruption.

Morning opening: Zelenskyy visits Macron in Paris

Yakup Krupa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in less than an hour, as he begins another busy week of diplomacy It comes amid growing pressure from the United States to end the war with Ukraine.

“Peace is just around the corner if Vladimir Putin abandons his illusory hope of restoring the Soviet empire by first conquering Ukraine.“The French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrottold La Tribune Dimanche.

Well, this is big if.

During the weekend, Ukrainian negotiators meet US officials in Florida to discuss details of Washington’s proposed framework To end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Diplomats focused on revisions of the 28-point plan proposal developed during negotiations between Washington and Moscow. This plan was criticized for meeting Russia’s demands too much.

Meanwhile, EU ministers meet in Brussels to discuss foreign and defense issuesand US negotiators Steve Witkoff And Jared Kushner He will travel to Moscow ahead of planned talks with Russia Vladimir Putin. We have a lot to overcome.

Elsewhere, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Poland’s Donald Tusk in Berlin for the latest round of intergovernmental consultations between the two countries.

Ukraine will undoubtedly be at the top of the agenda, However, the meeting took place as positive sentiment towards Germany in Poland reached almost record levels. weird questions about relationship, I’m trying to explain this in the pitch riser here.

I will bring you all the important updates throughout the day.

His Monday, December 1, 2025, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.

Good morning.