U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, bringing with him a preliminary peace proposal that Washington hopes could help end the nearly four-year-long conflict in Ukraine.

As Witkoff traveled to Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his European diplomatic tour, arriving in Ireland to thank and engage with nations that have supported Ukraine throughout the war with Russia.

After months of struggling to make headway in resolving the war, U.S. President Donald Trump is dispatching officials to advance peace talks. These efforts are currently unfolding on separate tracks, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio holding discussions with Ukrainian representatives, while Witkoff travels to hold talks in Russia.

This week’s meetings may mark a step forward, but few specifics have been released. It is still uncertain how negotiators will tackle the major points of contention, such as control of disputed territories. European officials acknowledge that reaching a peace agreement will be a lengthy process.

European leaders, wary of further Russian territorial ambitions and concerned about how to continue financing Ukraine’s defense, are pushing to have more input in the talks after largely being overlooked by Washington. They are also exploring future security commitments for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron shared on Monday that he and Zelenskyy, speaking during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Paris, had a phone conversation with Witkoff. They also involved leaders from eight other European nations, as well as top European Union figures and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Macron noted that the days ahead would bring “critical discussions” involving U.S. representatives and Western allies. Zelenskyy’s stop in Paris came after a Sunday session between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, which Rubio described as a constructive dialogue.

Diplomats are facing immense challenges in narrowing the deep divisions between Ukraine and Russia, particularly around issues like territorial concessions and future security assurances for Ukraine — topics that remain deeply disputed.

Zelenskyy is facing significant pressure amid one of the most difficult phases of the war. Along with rallying international support, he has to secure funding for Ukraine’s ongoing efforts, confront a high-level corruption scandal within his administration, and maintain defense capabilities against continued Russian aggression.

On Monday night, the Kremlin announced that Russian troops had seized control of the key city Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk area. Zelenskyy, however, stated during his time in Paris that fighting in Pokrovsk was still underway.

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Coverage of the conflict in Ukraine continues.