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Five hours of talks in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a high-level US delegation led by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner, ended without a breakthrough on securing a peace deal for Ukraine.
A Kremlin spokesperson described the discussions as “constructive”, but insisted key parts of the US-backed draft peace plan remained unacceptable. Putin earlier said revisions proposed by Kyiv and European nations were “unacceptable”, warning that if Europe chooses war, “we are ready right now”.
Washington has been pushing for rapid agreement on the plan, initially viewed as favourable to Russia when leaked in November. Ukraine and European allies have since pressed for significant amendments, including rejecting territorial concessions and demanding clear security guarantees.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said both sides agreed on some points but had “not come up with a compromise version yet”, signalling lengthy negotiations ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Ireland, said there was a “real opportunity” to end the war but insisted Ukraine must be part of talks and receive firm security guarantees such as NATO-backed protection — a stance Russia opposes and Trump has ruled out.
Meanwhile, fighting continues on multiple fronts. Ukraine disputed Russia’s claim of capturing Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, insisting its forces retained control of key areas while inflicting heavy losses.
The war, ongoing since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has killed or injured tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 14,000 civilians, according to UN estimates.
