MOSCOW, Dec 3: Russian officials say the long talks between senior US envoys and President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a deal on control of Ukrainian territory, the main sticking point in ending the war. The meeting brought Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow as Washington tries to move peace efforts forward, according to Al Jazeera.
The discussion ran for nearly five hours and ended after midnight. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said both sides were still searching for common ground, though he noted that some US proposals could be explored. He called the exchange useful but said both capitals had more work to do.
Washington carried an updated peace plan after its earlier 28-point draft drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European partners who said it tilted toward Russia. Moscow has also rejected Ukraine and Europe’s counter-offer, saying it does not meet Russian interests, according to Al Jazeera.
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Before meeting the US envoys, Putin addressed an investment event where he accused European allies of helping prolong the fighting. He also warned that Russia would increase its attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels linked to Kyiv, citing recent incidents involving tankers near Türkiye.
Ukraine pushed back quickly. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Putin’s comments showed he wanted the war to continue, pointing to threats against ports and shipping routes that support Kyiv, according to Al Jazeera.
In Dublin, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed a peace deal that protected its dignity and future. Asked if he feared the US might step back, he said he was more concerned about allies losing interest, something he said Moscow wanted.
Trump said from Washington that the negotiations were proving tough. He noted that his envoys were trying to find a breakthrough but described the situation as messy and costly due to the rising casualties, Al Jazeera reported.
Ukrainian officials told AFP that Witkoff and Kushner might meet Ukrainian representatives on Wednesday, possibly in Brussels. Their next steps come as Russia claims it has taken Pokrovsk, a Donbas city Kyiv insists is still under Ukrainian control.
Putin said holding that area would give Russian troops a better foothold to push forward. Russia now controls about 19 percent of Ukraine, slightly more than last year, and its forces have advanced faster in 2025 than in previous years, based on pro-Ukrainian map data cited by Reuters and relayed by Al Jazeera.
The earlier leaked US plan included Russian demands such as limits on Ukraine’s army, full control of the Donbas and acceptance of Moscow’s presence in Zaporizhia and Kherson. Kyiv has rejected those terms, with Zelenskyy saying defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains his hardest challenge, according to Al Jazeera.
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