Discussions aimed at brokering an end to the war in Ukraine concluded after nearly five hours in Moscow, with a senior Russian official stating that no compromise was reached on the crucial issue of control of Ukrainian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner late Tuesday. Top Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who attended the meeting, described the conversation as “very useful and constructive” but stressed that “a lot of work lies ahead both in Washington and in Moscow.”
Ushakov confirmed that “so far, we haven’t found a compromise, but some American solutions can be discussed,” following the exchange of an updated U.S. peace plan. The U.S. delegation’s proposals follow an earlier 28-point draft that was criticized by Kyiv and its allies for favoring Russian demands.
🚨🇷🇺🇺🇦 RUSSIA-U.S. “PEACE TALKS” ON UKRAINE COLLAPSE: PUTIN AIDE SAYS NO BREAKTHROUGH, JUST POSTURING
Backchannel talks between Russia and the U.S. over a possible Ukraine peace deal have ended in total deadlock, with Putin aide Yuri Ushakov confirming there was no progress… pic.twitter.com/irfExE7yKe
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 3, 2025
Kremlin Stance, and Reactions
In comments delivered ahead of the meeting, President Putin reaffirmed that counter-proposals put forward by European powers remain “absolutely unacceptable” to Russia, and claimed his nation was ready to fight against European allies who are “on the side of war.” Putin also threatened to increase attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels.
Responding to the Russian leader’s remarks, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha wrote on social media, “It was clear that Putin did not want the war to end.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from Ireland, expressed fear of Kyiv’s allies becoming “tired,” noting that withdrawing American interest is a goal of Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the difficulty of the negotiations, stating at a cabinet meeting that the situation was “Not an easy situation. What a mess.”
Next Steps, and Context
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously confirmed Russia’s commitment to the dialogue, expressing readiness to meet U.S. negotiators as many times as necessary to reach a comprehensive agreement.
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The diplomatic flurry may see the U.S. delegation meet with a Ukrainian delegation as early as Wednesday, possibly in Brussels. This activity comes amid conflicting reports on the ground, as Russia claims to have seized the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk, a development Kyiv denies.
