Russia Continues Deadly Attacks on Ukraine Ahead of Witkoff Visit as Zelenskyy Looks to European Allies

Latest Developments

• Daily Russian Barrages Continue: Russia continued its daily strikes on Ukraine on December 1 with deadly drone and missile barrages. Four people were killed and at least 40 were injured by a ballistic missile strike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, according to Ukrainian authorities. The Ukrainian Air Force also reported that Russia launched 89 drones of various types into Ukraine during the night of November 30 to December 1. Russian attacks on November 29 and 30 reportedly killed four people and injured dozens more in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv. The December 1 attacks came as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff prepared to travel to Moscow to present a U.S.-brokered proposal to end the war.
• Zelenskyy Rallies European Allies: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in a bid to rally European support. “We share the view that the war must be brought to a fair end. It is important to make progress on developing security guarantees and a long-term foundation for our resilience — for both Ukraine and Europe,” Zelenskyy stated.
• U.S. and Ukraine Negotiators Meet in Florida: On November 30, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov led a delegation of Ukrainian negotiators to Hallandale, Florida, to meet with Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump advisor Jared Kushner. The U.S. plan has reportedly been revised over multiple rounds of negotiations between the United States and Ukraine after the original, 28-point proposal was criticized for bias toward the Russian position. However, key issues remain unresolved. “It’s not just about the terms that ends fighting,” Rubio said. “It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity. … I think we built on that today, but there’s more work to be done.” Witkoff and Umerov reportedly met again on December 1 to discuss outstanding issues. Witkoff is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 2.

FDD Expert Response

“This is a risky week. We have two belligerents in this conflict — but only Ukraine is getting pressured, first by the United States at the talks in Florida and second by Russia with its missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities. By contrast, Russia is feeling no pressure, as the United States refuses to bring serious sanctions on secondary recipients of the shadow fleet’s fossil fuels that fund Moscow’s war effort. This is no way for the United States to run a serious negotiation — and no one involved deserves a Nobel Prize for this hypocrisy.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“Vladimir Putin seems to be convinced that he can grind down Ukraine while withstanding Western economic punishment. So long as the Russian autocrat believes time is on his side, he is unlikely to make the compromises necessary for peace. Washington should focus its energies on changing that calculus. Putin must be made to understand that further fighting will bring Russia nothing but mounting pain.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

FDD Background and Analysis

“Putin Aide Says ‘Serious Analysis’ Needed of New Trump Proposal To End Russian War on Ukraine,” FDD Flash Brief

“Fixing Putin’s plan,” by Clifford D. May

“Peace in Ukraine Unlikely Until Putin’s Calculus Changes,” by John Hardie and Keti Korkiya

“Romania, Germany Scramble Fighter Jets To Track Russian Drone Incursion as U.S. and Ukraine Deliberate Over Ceasefire Deal,” FDD Flash Brief