Russia and the U.S. failed to reach a compromise on Ukraine after five-hour Kremlin talks. President Vladimir Putin met Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Moscow. Kremlin officials said the discussions were constructive, but no agreement on territory was reached.
The talks, which lasted past midnight, focused on Russian claims in Donbas. Putin rejected some U.S. proposals, while others were deemed potentially acceptable but needing further discussion. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the sides agreed not to disclose details publicly. A direct meeting between Putin and Trump is not currently planned.
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Trump described the Ukraine war as “a mess,” citing monthly casualties of 25,000 to 30,000. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned against secret deals and emphasized that any resolution must involve Ukraine directly. European powers remain cautious about U.S. draft proposals favoring Moscow.
The five-hour session followed leaked U.S. peace drafts last month, which alarmed Ukraine and Europe. The Kremlin indicated huge potential for U.S.-Russian economic cooperation despite the stalled talks. Both sides said more work is required to explore possible solutions.
Read more: Witkoff, Kushner in Russia: Can U.S. broker a fair peace?
Putin reiterated Russia does not want war with Europe, but threatened to sever Ukraine’s sea access. Ukrainian officials said these remarks signal that Moscow is not ready to end the conflict soon. Observers say the war remains deeply entrenched and complex.