Ukraine peace resolution remains distant after US-Russia talks - Putin accuses Europe of sabotage

Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, said that after a five-hour meeting with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the two sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. There is a lot of work to be done.” Ushakov called the meeting constructive but confirmed that no agreement was reached on key issues, particularly the potential lines of territorial control in a peace deal.

Competing Peace Proposals and Demands

The US delegation presented an updated version of a peace plan that was reportedly reworked to be more acceptable to Kyiv, but the core disagreements remain profound:

• Russian Stance: Ushakov stated Russia had a "critical and even negative attitude towards a number of proposals" in the US plan. Putin said that "European demands" on ending the war were "not acceptable to Russia," accusing Europe of "preventing the US administration from achieving peace." Russia's sweeping demands amount to severely eroding Ukraine's sovereignty, including deep cuts to its armed forces, a ban on Western military assistance, and the handover of Ukrainian-controlled territory.

• US Assessment: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a slightly more optimistic view, claiming that “some progress” was made on security guarantees, which the US hopes would allow Ukraine to "prosper as a country."

• Ukrainian Stance: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “awaiting signals” from the US delegation. He has previously objected to provisions in the original 28-point plan that required Ukraine to surrender territory and impose limits on its military size. He continues to demand clear, enforceable security guarantees from the West.

Putin’s Threats and Battlefield Claims

The relatively downbeat diplomatic assessments were preceded by aggressive remarks from Putin, who warned that "Russia does not intend to fight Europe, but if Europe starts, we are ready right now." His comments appeared aimed at driving a wedge between Washington and its European allies.

Meanwhile, Putin claimed Russian forces had taken control of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine during a visit to a command center. Although Ukrainian officials disputed the claim, analysts and military bloggers have acknowledged that Russian forces largely control the frontline hub, seen as a gateway to Donetsk.

Buoyed by recent gains, Putin also threatened retaliation against Ukraine’s ports and shipping after Kyiv recently struck several vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea. He threatened that Moscow would “step up strikes on Ukrainian ports and on any ships entering them” in response to the attacks, which he described as "piracy."