"Constructive" Ukraine Peace Talks End Without Consensus: Kremlin Critical of New US Proposals

A marathon five-hour talk in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Envoy Steve Whitkoff, accompanied by Jared Kushner, concluded without achieving any significant breakthrough on a peace plan for Ukraine. Despite this, Russian negotiators described the meeting as "fruitful."

The Disagreement: Kremlin senior aide Yuri Ushakov stated that the talks were "constructive" but admitted, "We have not yet reached a consensus formula," noting that President Putin had a "negative," or at least "critical," reaction to a number of the US proposals. Ushakov confirmed that work will continue, and Russia received four additional documents related to the latest US draft plan.

US Position: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that they made "some progress" in determining what Ukrainians could "coexist with" and what would grant them "security guarantees for the future," expressing Washington's hope that a settlement would allow Ukraine to prosper as a state. Whitkoff left Moscow amid reports of upcoming consultations with other parties.

Ukrainian and European Concerns: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects to be briefed on the Kremlin talks, stressing that any plan must end the war permanently. He emphasized the principle of "no maneuvers behind Ukraine's back. Nothing decided without Ukraine about us, about our future." Europe remains anxious that a US-Russian deal might force Kyiv into unfair concessions.

Putin's Warnings: In a separate context, Putin earlier today warned that changes proposed by Kyiv and Europe to the US-backed peace plan were unacceptable to Moscow, reiterating his warning to Europe that if it "wants to wage war and starts it, we are ready now." Putin demands that Kyiv cede territories claimed by Moscow and rejects any European force monitoring a truce.

Proposed Plan Background (Revised Version):

• Ukraine commits not to retake occupied sovereign territories by military means, but through negotiations.

• Ukrainian Armed Forces size to be capped at 800,000 troops.

• Ukraine's NATO membership contingent on consensus among alliance members, which is currently deemed unachieved. NATO agrees not to deploy troops in Ukraine.

• Ukraine is to receive security guarantees reflecting NATO's Article 5.

On the Ground: Fighting continued, with the Ukrainian Army denying Russia's claim of control over the eastern city of Pokrovsk or the northeastern town of Vovchansk, confirming that the "clearing of the area from hostile groups is still ongoing."