No Progress in US–Ukraine Talks on Peace Agreement

Despite a five-hour meeting between senior representatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, no significant progress appears to have been made toward a peace agreement in Ukraine. A Kremlin spokesperson stated that although the Moscow meeting was constructive, some proposals were not acceptable to Russia.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were present at the talks. The meeting was held after weeks of diplomatic efforts. However, the US delegation made no comment upon leaving Moscow.

Before the meeting, Putin said that the proposed changes to the US-backed peace plan by Kyiv and European partners were unacceptable to Russia. He added that if Europe wanted a war, Russia was ready. The plan, leaked in November, was initially considered favourable to Russia, but several changes have since been introduced.

After the Moscow meeting, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said that while the Kremlin agreed with some aspects of the proposal, others were criticised. He added that no compromise version had yet emerged and that much work remained. Key disputes between Moscow and Kyiv persist, including territorial issues and Europe’s security guarantees.

Before the talks, Putin criticised European leaders for supporting Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion in ২০২২. He said Europe was mistaken in believing Russia could be strategically defeated, though he insisted Russia did not seek conflict with Europe. Still, he warned that Russia was fully prepared if war erupted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped the US team would brief him on the Moscow talks. It remains unclear whether Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Kyiv or any other European capital for further discussions.

During a press conference in Ireland, Zelensky said the opportunity to end the war still existed, although certain proposals remained under discussion. He reiterated Ukraine’s demands for security guarantees and NATO membership—terms long rejected by Russia and dismissed by Trump. He stressed that the war must end in a manner that prevents Russia's return.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian representatives held two rounds of high-level talks regarding the proposed plan, joined by Witkoff, Kushner and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The White House reported that the proposal had been revised, but details of the updated plan were still unclear.

Putin remains steadfast in his demands concerning eastern Ukrainian territories. Meanwhile, Trump told his Cabinet in Washington that resolving the conflict was not an easy task.

Source: BBC

Khaborwala/TSN