Vladimir Putin hosted US negotiators at the Kremlin on Tuesday for five hours of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which a Russian official said had been productive.
The discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were held behind closed doors and details have not yet emerged. They came shortly after Putin said European demands over a US-Russia draft peace plan were unacceptable, adding that if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready to do so.
The US envoys went to Moscow after similar talks with delegates from Kyiv in the last fortnight. Ukraine's President Zelensky said he expected a briefing by the US team after the meeting. He said there was an opportunity to end the war now more than ever but that elements of the proposals still needed to be worked out.
Everything depends on today's discussions, Zelensky told a press conference in Dublin during an official visit to Ireland. Kyiv representatives have twice met US negotiators, including Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, since the 28-point peace plan emerged in November.
This plan, widely viewed to favor Moscow, sparked shock in Ukraine and around Europe for appearing to prioritize Russia's demands.
After talks with Ukraine over the weekend, the White House indicated that proposals had been very much refined, although details of the updated plans have not been confirmed. Key disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain regarding Ukrainian sovereignty over the territories partially controlled by Russia and security guarantees.
Zelensky insisted on Ukraine's participation in peace talks and stressed the need for definitive security commitments, including NATO membership—which has long been opposed by Russia and ruled out by Trump.
In an ongoing war situation, while talks were held, fighting continued on the front lines. Ukraine's military reported engagements with Russian forces in the crucial eastern city of Pokrovsk, countering Moscow's claim of capturing it. As the conflict persists, civilian infrastructures continue to suffer devastating attacks, with reports of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or injured since the onset of hostilities in February 2022.
The discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were held behind closed doors and details have not yet emerged. They came shortly after Putin said European demands over a US-Russia draft peace plan were unacceptable, adding that if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready to do so.
The US envoys went to Moscow after similar talks with delegates from Kyiv in the last fortnight. Ukraine's President Zelensky said he expected a briefing by the US team after the meeting. He said there was an opportunity to end the war now more than ever but that elements of the proposals still needed to be worked out.
Everything depends on today's discussions, Zelensky told a press conference in Dublin during an official visit to Ireland. Kyiv representatives have twice met US negotiators, including Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, since the 28-point peace plan emerged in November.
This plan, widely viewed to favor Moscow, sparked shock in Ukraine and around Europe for appearing to prioritize Russia's demands.
After talks with Ukraine over the weekend, the White House indicated that proposals had been very much refined, although details of the updated plans have not been confirmed. Key disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain regarding Ukrainian sovereignty over the territories partially controlled by Russia and security guarantees.
Zelensky insisted on Ukraine's participation in peace talks and stressed the need for definitive security commitments, including NATO membership—which has long been opposed by Russia and ruled out by Trump.
In an ongoing war situation, while talks were held, fighting continued on the front lines. Ukraine's military reported engagements with Russian forces in the crucial eastern city of Pokrovsk, countering Moscow's claim of capturing it. As the conflict persists, civilian infrastructures continue to suffer devastating attacks, with reports of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or injured since the onset of hostilities in February 2022.
