Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Tuesday at the Kremlin with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special representative, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to explore the possibility of ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Shortly before the meeting, Putin warned that Europe would face a swift defeat if it entered a war with Russia. He rejected European proposals on Ukraine as “completely unacceptable for Russia,” accusing European powers of trying to obstruct the Trump administration’s peace efforts.
Also present at the Kremlin meeting were Presidential Representative Kirill Dmitriev, Foreign Policy Adviser Yuri Ushakov, and interpreters. Putin said the discussions were not about reaching a concrete agreement but about reviewing a set of proposals that could serve as a “basis for future arrangements.”
He added that he is prepared to negotiate peace, but if Ukraine refuses an agreement, Russian forces will advance and seize additional Ukrainian territory. Russia currently controls over 19% of Ukraine’s territory, although it has not succeeded in fully conquering the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the outcome of the talks in Moscow will determine the next steps. He emphasized that “there will be no easy solutions… everything must be fair and transparent, without deals made behind Ukraine’s back.”
The U.S. proposals and European counter-proposals include issues related to NATO, Russian control of Ukrainian regions, and protections for Russian-speaking populations. Ukraine and European powers consider such demands a form of capitulation and warn that they pose further risks for NATO member states.
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Russia must not be rewarded for the war it started.
