Russia and the US made little progress toward a peace deal for Ukraine during talks in Moscow on Tuesday evening, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, hours after President Putin warned that Russia was ready for war with Europe.
Ushakov said that after a five-hour meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis,” noting much work remained. Despite calling the meeting “useful and constructive,” he acknowledged that no agreement was reached on key issues, including potential territorial arrangements in a peace deal.
Ushakov added that they discussed the essence of US proposals rather than specific documents, agreeing on some points while rejecting others. He also hinted that further details of the negotiations would remain private and that another Trump-Putin summit was not imminent.
The talks followed combative remarks from Putin accusing European powers of sabotaging peace and warning that Russia would respond if Europe engaged in conflict. Witkoff was expected to present an updated US peace plan, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awaited signals from the US delegation after intensive shuttle diplomacy.
Zelenskyy stressed that the proposal “looks better” but remained incomplete, objecting to provisions that would force Ukraine to surrender territory and limit its military, while demanding enforceable security guarantees. Meanwhile, Russia continued asserting maximalist demands that undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, including limits on military and political independence, and claimed control of the strategic city of Pokrovsk despite Ukrainian disputes.
Putin’s statements appeared aimed at dividing Washington and Europe, signalling readiness to continue military operations, and threatening retaliation against Ukraine’s ports and shipping in response to recent attacks on Russian vessels.
Moscow claims to have taken the city of Pokrovsk. Russian Ministry of Defence