Yesterday's five-hour meeting between Vladimir Putin and American envoys ended without a breakthrough. Today, Putin doubled down with a warning that's sending shockwaves across Europe: Russia is ready for war if Europe wants one.
I've been following Ukraine coverage for almost four years now, and I'll be honest — this feels different. Not necessarily worse, but definitely different. Something shifted in that Kremlin meeting room.
What Actually Happened In Moscow
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner flew to Moscow fresh from talks with Ukraine in Florida. They brought a revised 27-point peace plan. Putin's adviser called the discussions "very useful, constructive, and highly informative" — but made clear no compromise was reached on territorial issues.
The sticking points haven't changed. Russia wants Ukraine to hand over territory, including land it doesn't even control yet. Ukraine wants ironclad security guarantees before giving up anything. And Europe is watching nervously, worried about being cut out of decisions that directly affect their security.
Europe Isn't Backing Down
The European response has been defiant. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte dismissed Putin's threats, saying he won't react to every comment Putin makes. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it "the same old sabre-rattling." Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared this week could be "pivotal for diplomacy" and that Europe needs to make Ukraine "as strong as possible."
Here's what caught my attention though: the EU just agreed to ban Russian natural gas by late 2027. That's not just talk — that's preparing for a long confrontation.
Where This Goes Next
Both sides are exhausted. Ukraine is facing serious manpower shortages and a corruption scandal that just forced out top officials. Russia is reportedly losing thousands of soldiers weekly. Neither can keep this up forever.
The wildcard remains American pressure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio notably skipped today's NATO meeting in Brussels — the first time a US Secretary of State has missed such a meeting in over 20 years. Read into that what you will.