Washington, D.C. :
The US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears willing to end the war in Ukraine, following what he described as a “very good” round of talks between a US delegation and the Kremlin in Moscow. The comments came after extended discussions on a proposed Ukraine peace plan involving senior American envoys.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “Putin had a very good meeting yesterday with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. What comes out of it, I can’t say yet—it requires agreement from both sides. But they conveyed clearly that Putin wants the war to end.”
Kremlin: No Breakthrough on Territorial Issues
Despite Trump’s optimism, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov offered a more cautious assessment.
Ushakov confirmed that the talks were the longest and most substantive since the Ukraine war began in 2022, but insisted that no agreement was reached on territorial matters, which remain the core stumbling block in any peace negotiation.
He said the American side presented new proposals, and both delegations discussed various pathways to peace during a late-night meeting. However, he stressed that “major disputes remain unresolved.”
Ushakov added that several senior Russian officials attended the talks, including sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev, who participated in discussions on possible frameworks to end the conflict.
Talks Remain Confidential; Putin Sends Direct Message to Trump
Ushakov emphasized that the dialogue was conducted under strict confidentiality.
“We decided not to disclose the substance of the talks,” he said, adding that despite “no major progress yet,” diplomacy remains active.
He also revealed that Putin asked Witkoff to deliver important political messages directly to Trump, signaling Moscow’s interest in maintaining a communication channel with the former US President.
According to Ushakov, “He will give his report to Trump and then contact us again,” suggesting that further US–Russia exchanges are likely.
Putin Criticizes Europe’s Role in Peace Efforts
Before meeting the US delegation, Putin criticized European countries for trying to obstruct peace talks.
He accused European governments of submitting proposals intended to “stall the entire peace process,” calling their stance unconstructive.
The latest diplomatic activity represents a rare moment of engagement between Washington and Moscow since the war began, although both sides acknowledge that deep divisions—especially over Ukrainian territory—continue to block any immediate breakthrough.
