The Biden administration is pushing to finalize a framework for ending the Russia-Ukraine war by the end of November, according to Politico. But the most explosive detail isn’t the deadline — it’s who wasn’t invited to help shape it.
Back-Channel Talks With Moscow
Sources say U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-day meeting in Miami last month with Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, producing a 28-point draft plan now circulating in Washington.
The outline is expected to be presented to Ukraine as a fait accompli, with little to no input from Kyiv or America’s European allies.
No Transparency, Big Questions
“Neither Ukraine nor Europe seems to have contributed to this plan — and we still have no idea what was agreed on in the most sensitive areas,” Politico reports, citing issues such as:
- Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory
- Abductions of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children
- Security guarantees for Ukraine’s future
Uncertain Path Ahead
As Washington signals urgency, critics warn that a rushed deal crafted behind closed doors could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and fracture Western unity.