Zelenskyy Warns of New Russian Disinformation Campaigns as Trump Envoy Prepares for Putin Meeting

Ukraine’s Diplomatic Team Briefs President Zelenskyy as US-Russia Talks Loom

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gathered his negotiation team on December 2, 2025, for an in-depth briefing following their recent meetings in the United States. The high-stakes discussions addressed sensitive matters requiring face-to-face dialogue, as the Trump administration prepares for crucial talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The timing highlights Ukraine’s precarious position in ongoing peace negotiations. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Putin in Moscow—marking their sixth meeting this year. Ukraine has already managed to reduce an initial 28-point American proposal, which experts had described as “devastating for both Ukrainian and European security,” to a 19-point framework. However, fundamental issues regarding territory, military limitations, and NATO membership remain unresolved.

Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov provided details on key points raised during Sunday’s talks in Florida. The Ukrainian delegation met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner at Witkoff’s Shell Bay club near Miami.

“We discussed in person the matters that cannot be addressed over the phone,” Zelenskyy stated in his Facebook post, underscoring the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

These discussions built upon the Geneva document recently agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington. That agreement eliminated some of the most problematic elements from the original 28-point proposal, including explicit prohibitions on NATO membership and limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces. However, territorial questions and long-term security architecture remain “in brackets,” awaiting presidential decisions.

Zelenskyy expressed appreciation to Andrii Hnatov for providing American partners with “a very substantive briefing” on actual battlefield conditions. With intelligence officials present, the discussions covered the practicality of various frontline measures and challenges in ensuring protection from Russian strikes should a ceasefire be implemented.

The briefing comes amid intense combat in eastern Ukraine. Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov told Liga.net that over 100,000 Russian troops are currently concentrated in the Pokrovsk sector, with Moscow “bringing all available reserves there.” Despite Russia’s year-long effort to capture the city, Hnatov stated that Ukrainian forces continue to halt enemy advances and inflict significant casualties.

Zelenskyy also warned about Russia’s diplomatic tactics, stating, “We note that the Russians have already launched new disinformation campaigns in view of preparations for their upcoming meetings with the American side.”

This caution echoes previous Ukrainian assessments. Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya revealed that during the 2022 Istanbul talks, Russian negotiators proposed creating joint WhatsApp groups rather than addressing substantive issues—using the appearance of diplomatic engagement as cover while pursuing military objectives.

Ukrainian intelligence will provide partners with “all available information regarding Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomatic engagement as cover to weaken sanctions and block important collective European decisions,” Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian diplomats are actively working to ensure European nations and Coalition of the Willing participants are “meaningfully involved in developing decisions.” Zelenskyy updated his team on conversations with European leaders and Witkoff, which took place earlier in Paris.

“Ukraine approaches all diplomatic efforts with utmost seriousness—we are committed to achieving a real peace and guaranteed security,” Zelenskyy emphasized. “This is exactly the level of commitment that must be compelled from the Russian side, and this task can be accomplished only together with our partners.”

The effectiveness of these diplomatic efforts will be tested this week when the results of Witkoff’s sixth meeting with Putin in Moscow emerge, potentially revealing more about Russia’s strategic approach to negotiations. The outcome of these talks could significantly influence the trajectory of the conflict and shape Ukraine’s position in future negotiations.