Talks Between U.S. and Russia Described as “Constructive”

The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that discussions took place between the U.S. and Russia. Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Vladimir Putin referred to the talks as “constructive” and “very helpful,” although no specific details were shared.

Yuri Ushakov, a key aide to Putin, noted, “No compromise has been found at the moment.” He added that the discussions covered the essence of the issues rather than specific texts or solutions and mentioned that both sides recognized considerable potential for collaboration.

Ushakov also vaguely indicated that some proposals by the U.S. for a ceasefire in Ukraine were “acceptable to Russia,” while others were not.

Concerning the territorial matters, he stated, “We particularly discussed the territorial issue, without which we believe that the crisis cannot be resolved. Of course, we also discussed the broader prospects for future economic exchanges between our two countries.”

When asked by reporters if the talks had moved peace closer or further away in Ukraine, Ushakov replied, “It’s definitely not moving away.”

The lengthy five-hour meeting in Moscow included not just Witkoff but also Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and two of Putin’s high-ranking aides. This duration was nearly double that of typical meetings of this nature. Economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who was also present, described the meeting as “productive,” but shared few additional insights.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when approached for a detailed summary, stated, “No, we have nothing to characterize at the moment.” He explained that it was their prerogative to keep details under wraps, suggesting that a low-key approach might yield better chances for a positive outcome.

Peskov emphasized that it was “untrue” that Putin had dismissed the U.S. peace proposal. However, European leaders have accused him of merely seeking a ceasefire.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urged Putin to “end the violence and bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and support a just and lasting peace.”

On another note, reports claimed that the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk had been captured—a Military victory claimed by Russian forces, which Ukrainian officials disputed. They acknowledged, though, that the situation around Pokrovsk was quite “extremely difficult.”

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense accused Russia of fabricating the capture narrative to strengthen their position in ceasefire talks, bolstered by videos suggesting Russian control over the city.

Putin claimed that taking Pokrovsk would provide the Russian army with a significant strategic advantage, allowing them to pursue their objectives more effectively.