Negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a delegation from the Donald Trump administration, including Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy, in Moscow over a peace deal for Ukraine failed to narrow differences.
While the specific negotiation process remained undisclosed, reports indicated that the two sides held conflicting positions regarding Russia’s territorial claims over occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to Reuters on the 3rd, Yuri Ushakov, a Russian foreign policy aide, stated after approximately five hours of negotiations at the Kremlin, which began the previous evening and extended past midnight, that “the dialogue between President Putin and Special Envoy Witkoff was quite useful and constructive,” yet “no compromise has been reached on the territorial issue yet.” He added, “Both sides agreed that there is still much work to be done. We will continue to maintain contact,” expressing a willingness for further discussions. The talks also included the attendance of Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to the White House and Trump’s son-in-law.
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The Russian side reportedly maintains that while it can partially accept the U.S. peace proposal, an agreement without compromise on the occupied territories is difficult. It is interpreted that Russia reaffirmed its stance that ending the war is impossible without recognition of its territorial claims over the approximately 5,000 square kilometres of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which its military currently controls.
Initially, the U.S. proposed a draft peace plan containing 28 provisions, including recognition of Russia’s territorial claims over occupied areas, reduction of Ukrainian forces, and restrictions on Ukraine’s NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership. However, as Ukraine and major European countries protested that the proposal was one-sidedly favourable to Russia, the talks proceeded with a revised version reduced to 20 items.
Prior to the talks, Putin targeted Europe, stating, “They are obstructing U.S.-led efforts to end the war,” and declared a readiness to wage war. Putin added, “Europe is blocking the entire peace process by amending peace proposals with demands that Russia can never accept,” and emphasized, “If Europe wishes to wage war against us, we are immediately prepared for war. There is no doubt about this.”
The U.S. has not issued a separate statement following the talks. Witkoff was reported to have visited the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and then left the city after the negotiations concluded. In a Fox News interview released on the afternoon of the 2nd, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “No one is winning this war,” and added, “In battles over an area accounting for 20% of the Donetsk region, Russia is losing 7,000 soldiers weekly. The damage to Ukraine is beyond mention.” He further remarked, “We are examining whether it is possible to end the war in a way both sides can agree to, while protecting Ukraine’s future,” and added, “Some progress has been made, but we have not yet reached that point.”
Reuters
