Trump's emissary Witkoff goes to Moscow to address both peace and phone leak

US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. According to the Kremlin, the talks are to be about possible peace in Ukraine.

Jared Kushner is also part of the diplomatic talks. Trump says they are making progress and Moscow has made some concessions.

But the peace plan the US is presenting has raised concerns in Kiev and among European allies - because it bans Ukraine from joining NATO, legitimises Russian control over parts of its territory and limits Ukraine's military.

Despite this, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared his willingness to discuss. Tensions have been exacerbated by the leak of a recording of a conversation between Witkoff and Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov.

The latter described the leak as an attempt at sabotage. Trump, meanwhile, has backed down from his tough stance that Ukraine has a choice of surrender or fight. The Kremlin warns that it is too early to talk about a deal. Russian forces currently control more than 19 percent of Ukraine.

(reuters, swag)