Putin Aide: US-Russia Ukraine Talks Yield Progress, More Work Ahead

Senior Russian official Yuri Ushakov has characterized recent US-Russia talks concerning a peace plan for Ukraine as “productive,” but emphasized that substantial work remains. The meetings, held in Moscow on Tuesday, involved President Vladimir Putin and a US delegation including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aimed at finding a resolution to the prolonged conflict. Ushakov reported that while some proposals presented by the American side were deemed “more or less acceptable” and acknowledged by President Putin, others drew criticism. “We could agree on some things, and the president confirmed this to his interlocutors. Other things provoked criticism, and the president also didn’t hide our critical and even negative attitude toward a number of proposals,” he explained. He concluded that “the work will continue” to bridge the differences. These discussions followed an earlier key meeting in Florida between Ukrainian representatives and senior US officials regarding the peace initiative. Post-Florida talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a sentiment of “guarded optimism,” noting “some signs of progress.” A peace proposal recently brought to light has been a focal point of contention. This plan, which has been perceived as leaning towards Moscow’s positions, includes significant demands for Ukraine, such as relinquishing control over the Donbas region and halting its pursuit of NATO membership. These conditions have been firmly rejected by Ukrainian officials as non-starters. While there are reports of alterations to the peace framework, specifics regarding the revised terms are yet to be publicly clarified.