Kremlin Talks With US Yield No Ukraine Peace Breakthrough

Published: 03 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Five hours of high-level talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s senior negotiator have ended without a breakthrough on a potential Ukraine peace deal. A Kremlin spokesperson described the Moscow meeting as “constructive,” but acknowledged that several elements of the plan remained unacceptable to Russia.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner attended the discussions, following weeks of intensive diplomacy aimed at ending the war. The US team has not publicly commented since leaving Moscow.

Earlier, Putin dismissed changes proposed by Kyiv and Europe to a US-backed draft peace plan as unacceptable. “If Europe wants to go to war and starts one, we are ready right now,” he warned, reiterating Moscow’s readiness to confront any escalation.

Ukraine and its allies have been urging amendments to the draft deal, which was initially seen as favourable to Russia after leaks surfaced in November. The plan has since undergone several modifications, though Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over key issues, including the ceding of territories currently under Ukrainian control and the scope of European security guarantees.

Putin’s senior aide Yuri Ushakov said, “We agreed with some points… but some things we criticised. We have not come up with a compromise version yet… A lot of work lies ahead.” Differences also persist between Russia and Ukraine’s European allies regarding the overall framework of a potential settlement.

Before the talks, Putin criticised European leaders supporting Kyiv’s defensive campaign, claiming they were under the illusion they could strategically defeat Russia. He emphasised that while Russia had no plans to go to war with Europe, it was ready to respond if hostilities were initiated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the US team would brief him on the Kremlin discussions, though it remains unclear whether Witkoff and Kushner will travel to Kyiv or other European capitals for follow-up negotiations. Zelensky stressed that “everything depends on today’s discussions” and reiterated the importance of Ukraine taking part in peace negotiations while securing clear security guarantees, including NATO membership—a move long opposed by Russia.

Zelensky highlighted that ending the war requires a solution that prevents Russia from returning within a year, while high-level Ukrainian delegations have engaged in multiple rounds of talks with US and Russian representatives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that while progress had been made, final decisions rested entirely with President Putin.

Meanwhile, Trump described the conflict to his cabinet as “a mess,” underscoring the complexity of brokering a resolution. As Moscow and Kyiv remain entrenched in their positions, the prospects for a swift peace settlement appear uncertain.