Russia–US peace talks end with no breakthrough on Ukraine

Peace talks between Russia and the United States aimed at securing a settlement to end the war in Ukraine ended on Tuesday without a breakthrough, with officials from both sides acknowledging that major differences remain over territorial control and security arrangements.

The five-hour meeting at the Kremlin brought together Russian President Vladimir Putin and a US delegation led by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's senior negotiator, and Jared Kushner. It was Witkoff's sixth trip to Moscow this year and followed consultations with Ukrainian officials in Florida on revisions to a 28-point US-backed peace proposal, says the BBC.

After the talks, senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the discussions left the sides "neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine," underscoring the absence of progress despite what he described as a constructive exchange.

Ushakov said the meeting was "extremely useful, constructive, and informed," but added, "We have not come up with a compromise version yet... A lot of work lies ahead." A Kremlin spokesman also called the talks "constructive."

The US delegation did not comment publicly after departing Moscow. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said "some progress" had been made on defining possible security guarantees that Ukrainians could accept "to allow them to rebuild and prosper."

Despite that assessment, Russian officials stressed that key elements of the US-supported plan remained unacceptable to Moscow. Ushakov said, "We could agree with some things… and the president also did not hide our critical and even negative attitude towards a number of proposals."

Central sticking points include Russia's demand that Ukraine cede territory it continues to control and accept limits on its military forces and political autonomy. Moscow also rejects proposed European-backed security guarantees for Kyiv. Before the talks, Putin said proposed changes from Kyiv and European governments to the US plan were "not acceptable to Russia."

Russia's broader conditions, which it frames as fulfilling the goals of its "special operation," would require Ukraine to surrender eastern territory, accept deep cuts to its armed forces, and halt Western military assistance - terms that Western governments and Kyiv say would undermine Ukrainian sovereignty, according to the Guardian.

Ahead of the meeting, Putin accused European governments of obstructing efforts to end the conflict, saying "European demands" on ending the war were "not acceptable to Russia." He added that Russia was not seeking conflict with Europe, but warned, "If Europe wants to go to war and starts one, we are ready right now."

Putin also said Russian forces remained on the offensive and that Moscow was prepared to continue fighting if diplomacy fails.

The talks took place as battles continued along the front, and both US and Russian officials acknowledged that wide gaps remain on core issues, including territory, security guarantees, and the long-term shape of any settlement. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts this year, the discussions ended with no sign that a resolution to the war is any closer.