Yury Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to the Kremlin, stated on Wednesday that discussions in Moscow involving U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, did not lead to a compromise to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. However, he described the talks as “constructive” and “useful.”
The nearly five-hour meeting, which included President Vladimir Putin, marked Witkoff’s sixth visit to Russia in 2023. The discussions revolved around a revised U.S. peace proposal, which incorporated input from Ukrainian officials.
While some viewed this proposal as a potential breakthrough, Ushakov’s cautious comments indicated significant distance remains between Moscow and Kyiv in the negotiations.
“A compromise solution has not yet been reached, but some ideas put forth by the Americans seem somewhat acceptable, though further discussion is needed,” Ushakov informed reporters. “Some of the phrasing they suggested does not align with our interests.”
When directly asked if the Kremlin talks brought Russia and Ukraine closer to a peace agreement, Ushakov stated that the two sides were “certainly not further” apart than previously, adding that “a lot of work lies ahead.”
Ushakov pointed out that territorial issues concerning Ukraine are “paramount” for Moscow, signaling that Putin is unlikely to ease his demands for Russia to gain full control over the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces reportedly captured the significant city of Pokrovsk over the weekend.
The Kremlin official characterized the Tuesday meeting as an opportunity to delve into the potential for future negotiations, noting that Witkoff and Kushner “committed” to visiting Kyiv to update Ukrainian officials.
He mentioned that both parties have agreed to continue talks but provided little insight regarding the likelihood of a new summit between Trump and Putin. A meeting that was anticipated to take place in Hungary in October was abruptly canceled after Trump expressed doubts about the efficacy of high-level discussions.
“As for a potential presidential meeting, it will depend on the progress we can achieve through the dedicated efforts of our aides and representatives,” Ushakov remarked.
He also implied that the discussions covered more than just the Ukraine issue, revealing that attendees talked about “vast possibilities for future economic cooperation” between the U.S. and Russia.
“This has been a topic at several previous meetings,” Ushakov told reporters. “However, this time, we stressed that if we truly wish to collaborate — given the immense opportunities available — it’s crucial to demonstrate sincere commitment.”
The Moscow Times reported in April that the Kremlin had instructed major Russian corporations to develop proposals for economic collaboration with Washington after Trump’s election last year. According to various sources from the government and business sectors, Moscow has attempted to tie business agreements to peace negotiations over Ukraine, apparently aiming to encourage Trump towards a settlement more advantageous for Russia.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Putin’s economic envoy, participated in the discussions surrounding the peace plan at the Kremlin on Tuesday. Prior to the meeting, photographs shared by state media showed him guiding Witkoff and Kushner around Moscow.
In a post on X, Dmitriev referred to the meeting with the two Americans as “productive.”
Despite the recent surge in diplomatic efforts, spurred by the leak of an initial 28-point plan reportedly drafted by U.S. and Russian officials, there is little indication that either Moscow or Kyiv has shifted their positions.
Last week, Putin indicated that a meeting with Witkoff was necessary to discuss specific aspects of the U.S. proposal, yet also warned that Russian forces would persist in advancing through the Donbas region if Ukraine did not agree to his conditions for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has made it clear that it is unwilling to cede territory it currently controls to Russia.
Initially, Trump set a challenging Thanksgiving deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the latest U.S. peace plan; however, he later retreated from this timeline, a pattern that has emerged in his efforts to fulfill his promise to end the war.
