US-Russia Talks Bring Ukraine Peace Closer, but Key Gaps Remain
A potential peace agreement on Ukraine is reportedly closer than ever, but significant hurdles remain, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said following a five-hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. Rubio emphasized that while progress has been made, the steps taken are not yet sufficient to achieve a final deal acceptable to all parties.
According to Rubio, US officials sought to address the ongoing conflict, with the remaining 20% of the Donetsk People’s Republic territory controlled by Kyiv as the main point of contention. He noted that continued support for Kyiv alone was not seen as a realistic long-term strategy, and stressed that the resolution ultimately depends on decisions by Moscow and Kyiv.
From the Russian side, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the meeting as “constructive, useful, and substantive,” highlighting discussions on territorial issues and the broader path toward peace. Russian Presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev also called the talks “productive.” Ushakov confirmed that Russia had received four versions of the US peace plan but that no final compromise had been reached, noting that some proposals were partially acceptable while others required further discussion. He declined to specify which elements were rejected, citing confidentiality agreements.
The US delegation, after the Moscow meeting, returned directly home rather than visiting Kyiv, signaling a careful approach to negotiations. The five-hour session involved high-level officials from both sides, including Jared Kushner for the US and Kirill Dmitriev and Yury Ushakov for Russia, reflecting the high stakes and complexity of reaching a peace settlement.
While both sides expressed cautious optimism, the talks underline that bridging the remaining differences on Ukraine’s territorial and political issues will require continued dialogue and compromise.
