A meeting in Moscow between Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Russian President Vladimir Putin lasted approximately five hours on Tuesday. This discussion is part of ongoing efforts to advance peace negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Following the meeting, a senior aide to President Putin indicated that while progress was made, “much work to be done” remains before a resolution can be reached.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior advisor to Putin, described the talks as “constructive, very useful and substantive.” However, he acknowledged that no compromise was reached regarding the territorial disputes central to the Ukraine conflict. “The territorial issue, naturally, is the most important for us, and for the Americans too,” Ushakov stated, emphasizing that while some proposals from the U.S. appeared acceptable, they require further discussion.
The discussions come after U.S. and Ukrainian officials gathered in Florida over the weekend, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the conversations as “another very productive session.” Trump expressed optimism, stating, “I think that there’s a good chance we can make a deal.”
Ushakov noted that Russia received four additional documents alongside the original 28-point peace proposal presented by the Trump administration last month. The details of these new documents remain undisclosed, as both parties agreed to keep the specifics of the talks confidential. Currently, no direct discussions between Putin and Trump are scheduled, although Ushakov mentioned that Putin requested Kushner and Witkoff to relay “important political signals” to Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, confirmed that the initial proposal had been condensed to 20 points following discussions in Geneva and Florida. He indicated that Ukraine is waiting for updates from the American delegation after their meetings in Russia. “We will receive certain signals,” he stated, suggesting that a fair agreement would facilitate a potential meeting with the American delegation. Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to meet with Trump, contingent upon the outcomes of the ongoing talks.
The original U.S.-backed proposal to end the conflict faced criticism for being overly accommodating to Russia, particularly concerning a provision that would require Ukraine to cede territory it currently controls in Donetsk. Trump acknowledged the need for concessions, stating, “They’re making concessions. They stop fighting, and they don’t take any more land.”
Despite the ongoing negotiations, a U.S. official recently informed CBS News that Ukraine had “agreed to a peace deal.” However, they also cautioned that it is “premature” to conclude that both sides are nearing a formal agreement. The complexities surrounding the territorial issues and the differing expectations continue to pose challenges to achieving a resolution.
As discussions proceed, the international community remains watchful of the developments in these crucial negotiations, which could significantly impact the future of Ukraine and its relations with both the U.S. and Russia.
