The Trump administration’s peace initiative for Ukraine faced a major setback as Tuesday’s Moscow negotiations concluded without achieving breakthrough on key issues. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that five hours of discussions between President Putin and Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner left the conflict resolution effort at the same distance from completion as when the meeting began.
Vladimir Putin adopted a confrontational posture before negotiations began, leveling accusations at European governments for allegedly obstructing peace efforts. The Russian leader claimed Europe was preventing the Trump administration from achieving resolution and issued a warning that Moscow stood ready for immediate war with European nations if they initiated hostilities. Putin characterized European demands regarding the conflict’s conclusion as unacceptable to Russia, remarks that appeared calculated to exploit divisions between Washington and its European allies.
The diplomatic engagement focused on an updated version of an American peace proposal that had undergone revisions following consultations with Russian officials and adjustments to address Ukrainian objections. However, Ushakov revealed that discussions examined underlying concepts rather than specific detailed proposals, with Putin expressing mixed reactions that included agreement on some elements and strong criticism of others. The Kremlin spokesman emphasized that certain aspects of negotiations would remain undisclosed.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy remained actively involved in parallel diplomatic efforts, announcing his readiness to receive information from the US team and expressing willingness for direct engagement with Trump. The Ukrainian leader has conducted extensive consultations with European allies regarding modifications to an original peace plan he viewed as excessively favorable to Moscow. Zelenskyy has maintained consistent opposition to provisions requiring territorial concessions and military size restrictions while demanding enforceable Western security commitments against future Russian aggression.
The persistent diplomatic impasse unfolds as military operations continue, with Putin emphasizing Russia’s battlefield momentum and claiming recent territorial advances. The Russian president has threatened intensified maritime strikes in response to attacks on Russian vessels, while Trump acknowledged the situation represented a complex challenge without simple solutions. Significant skepticism remains about whether Russia genuinely seeks compromise or is simply awaiting further deterioration in Western unity.