A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's envoy and his son-in-law lasted five hours Tuesday but ended without clear progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian officials called the meeting with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow "constructive" and "productive." But neither side released details of how the talks might bridge the chasm between Russia's unwavering demands and the assurances sought by Ukraine and its frozen-out European backers.
Beforehand, Putin called Europe's attempts to influence the U.S.-led peace talks "absolutely unacceptable" and said that while he did not want war with Europe, Russia was ready for one if necessary. Sidelined European powers were meeting Wednesday at a NATO summit in Belgium, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the rare step of skipping the summit altogether.
Putin's foreign adviser Yuri Ushakov called Tuesday's meeting “very useful, constructive” but that the sides agreed not to get into details about the negotiations.
Russian officials had reviewed a number of documents presented by the American delegation, and that some proposals "seem more-or-less acceptable, but they need to be discussed," Ushakov said.
Asked whether an end to the conflict was closer than before, Ushakov replied: “No further, that’s for sure. But there’s still a lot of work to be done, both in Washington and Moscow."
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Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, posted a single word on X after the meeting: “Productive.”
In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "waiting for signals from the American delegation after its meetings in Russia," adding that it was important "everything is fair and transparent and that "there are no games played behind Ukraine's back."
United States officials did not comment on the Moscow talks and the next steps for the American team were not clear.
Zelenskyy said earlier Tuesday, during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, that "if the signals align and if there is fair play from our partners, we may meet very soon."
Ukraine and Europe say they are concerned about being sidelined in the negotiations that will directly influence their safety and security on the continent. There are widespread fears that a favorable deal for Putin will embolden him to attack elsewhere.
A leaked 28-point plan the U.S. proposed last month was widely deemed as capitulating to Russia. It would have forced Kyiv to cede its territories to Moscow, including the land that it currently controls. It would have limited the size of Kyiv’s army and barred Ukraine from ever joining NATO.
The proposal blindsided Kyiv, which launched a storm of negotiations in Europe and the U.S. to try to amend the plan and make it more palatable to Ukraine.
It comes as Zelenskyy’s government is on the back foot on the battlefield, while rocked by a major corruption scandal. His powerful chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, resigned last week after being implicated in the probe.
Shortly before his scheduled meeting with the American delegation, Putin addressed an investment forum where he said his army held the advantage in Ukraine, while criticizing European leaders for hindering the peace process.
Russia has no intention of going to war with European countries, but if Europe starts a war, Russia is ready “right now,” Putin told reporters. "If Europe suddenly wants to start a war with us and does, then we could quickly get a situation in which we have no one to negotiate with.”
Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022 in what has become Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Despite Russia expecting Ukraine to surrender in a matter of days, the war has dragged on. The Ukrainian army, backed by Western weapons, has managed to not only resist the onslaught, but also counterattack. Still, Russian forces are now in control of roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
The Russian leader signaled last week that he was ready for a “serious” discussion with the U.S. and said that a version of the plan that was agreed during talks with Ukrainian officials in Geneva last month could form the “framework” of a final peace settlement. Still, he said his army had the upper hand on the battlefield and if no agreement was reached, he would get what he wanted by force.
Wearing a military uniform, Putin received reports from his generals Monday that Russian troops have completely “liberated” the city of Pokrovsk, an important Ukrainian transport and supply hub in the Donetsk region. Ukraine denied reports that the city was entirely under Russian control. Pokrovsk’s capture could serve as a springboard for the Russian military to threaten bigger cities and the whole region.
On the streets of Moscow, meanwhile, some expressed hope for an agreement and peace.
"Everyone is tired of this," Igor Andreev, 39, told NBC News in central Moscow, standing on a street opposite the U.S. Embassy. "I can’t afford many products," said Andreev, who works in marketing. "We are in isolation; I can’t go to another country. Everyone is tired of this situation. I think it needs to end in peace. Everyone is tired of [hearing about] victims. We want love to prevail."
