“No compromise” was reached on the crucial issue of control of Ukrainian territory to end Moscow’s war, a Russian official has said, after talks between senior US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner met Putin in the Russian capital on Tuesday, as the United States seeks to broker an end to the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War.
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The discussions lasted almost five hours and ended after midnight. “So far, we haven’t found a compromise, but some American solutions can be discussed,” said top Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who attended the meeting.
Although Ushakov described the conversation as “very useful and constructive”, he stressed that “a lot of work lies ahead both in Washington and in Moscow”.
The US delegation had travelled to the Russian capital to discuss a peace plan, which Washington has updated since its earlier leaked 28-point draft was strongly criticised by Ukraine and its allies for favouring Russia.
The Kremlin has condemned Kyiv and Europe’s subsequent counter-proposal, with Putin repeatedly saying that it is “unacceptable” to his country.
Ahead of his meeting with the US officials, the Russian leader delivered bellicose remarks at an investment forum, where he claimed his nation was ready to fight against Europe.
“They are on the side of war,” Putin claimed, referring to Ukraine’s European allies. “We can clearly see that all these changes are aimed at only one thing: to block the entire peace process altogether, to make such demands which are absolutely unacceptable to Russia.”
The 73-year-old also said that Russia would increase attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels, as well as tankers that support Kyiv, following attacks on ships carrying Russian oil off the coast of Turkiye.
Responding to his comments, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said it was clear that Putin did not want the war to end.
“Yesterday, he said he was prepared to fight through the winter. Today, he threatens sea ports and freedom of navigation,” Sybiha wrote on social