Five hours of talks between Russian President and top U.S. envoys concluded with no agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, Kremlin officials said, dashing hopes for an imminent peace settlement. The U.S. delegation, led by envoy and former real-estate executive Steve Witkoff and joined by Jared Kushner, met with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday evening in a push to revive the stalemated negotiations.
While Russian officials described the conversation as “constructive” and “substantive,” they acknowledged that the conversations — including discussion of a U.S.-backed peace framework — did not yield a compromise on the core issue: control of Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin signalled that without Russia’s territorial demands being accepted, no resolution is possible
The talks focused on a revised version of a previously leaked 28-point peace proposal from Washington, adjusted after criticism from Kyiv and European allies for allegedly favouring Moscow. Still, Russian officials maintained that many elements remain unacceptable.
In a public reaction, some European and Ukrainian officials accused Russia of going through the motions — suggesting that the Kremlin is not negotiating in good faith. They argued that despite the diplomatic effort, military operations on the ground continue, and the war shows no sign of abating.
With diplomacy stalled, the outlook is bleak. Observers warn that the failure of high-level negotiations may harden both sides’ positions, increasing the likelihood that the war will stretch on — prolonging suffering in Ukraine and sustaining uncertainty across Europe.
At the same time, Kremlin spokespeople signalled willingness to continue talks at a technical level, leaving the door ajar for future negotiations — though only if the U.S. and its allies accept Moscow’s terms regarding Ukrainian territory.
The outcome marks a sobering turning point: even with Washington’s renewed push for a deal, the gap between Moscow’s demands and Ukraine’s determination remains unbridged — leaving little reason for optimism in Kyiv or among its Western supporters.
