Kremlin: No agreement to end Ukraine war after US talks
In a significant development in diplomatic efforts to end the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, the Kremlin announced Tuesday evening the conclusion of an intensive round of talks with the United States, confirming that no final agreement had yet been reached regarding the status of Ukrainian territory. This followed a lengthy meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkopf, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Details of the Moscow negotiating marathon
The meeting, held in the Russian capital Moscow, lasted for approximately five hours and focused primarily on a revised US plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war. Commenting on the meeting's outcome, Kremlin diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov stated that the two sides had not yet reached an agreement regarding the Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control.
Despite the lack of a definitive answer, Ushakov described the talks as "very useful and constructive," noting that the door was still open to discussing some of the American proposals, while adding that "there is still a lot of work" to be done to bridge the gap between the two countries' positions.
The land issue and the historical context of the crisis
These talks come at a critical juncture, as the issue of "occupied territories" poses the biggest obstacle to any potential peace negotiations. Since the outbreak of military operations in February 2022, Russia has seized control of large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, declaring the annexation of regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—a move rejected by Kyiv and the international community, making a compromise extremely difficult.
Political analyses indicate that the new US administration is seeking a formula that guarantees a ceasefire, and perhaps a freeze on the conflict at the current front lines, which requires arduous negotiations to persuade the conflicting parties to make painful concessions.
International dimensions and the impact of the talks
The importance of these talks extends beyond just the Russian and Ukrainian sides; it encompasses regional and global security. The success or failure of these negotiations will shape the security architecture in Europe for years to come and will directly impact global energy markets and the international economy, which has already been severely damaged by sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
The participation of prominent figures such as Jared Kushner and Steve Wittkopf is seen as evidence of the seriousness of the current American approach and Washington's desire to accelerate the pace of a diplomatic solution, but Kremlin statements confirm that the road to peace is still fraught with challenges and requires more time and political maneuvering.
