Russia Disagrees with Aspects of US Plan to End Ukraine Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Moscow disagrees with certain components of a United States proposal aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This statement followed discussions with US negotiators at the Kremlin.
Discussions and Disagreements
President Putin informed India Today that Moscow had not received a revised version of the US peace plan prior to his nearly five-hour discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law. Putin cited this as the reason for the lengthy discussions, stating, "That's why we had to go over every point, that's why it took so long." He acknowledged that during the talks, "At times we said that yes, we can discuss this, but to that we can't agree."
Key unresolved issues reportedly include the status of Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces and the provision of security guarantees for Ukraine. Putin reiterated his position that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region, including areas still under Ukrainian control. Russia currently controls approximately 85% of the Donbas. "Either we take back these territories by force, or eventually Ukrainian troops withdraw," Putin stated.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's senior foreign policy adviser, previously stated that the Kremlin talks yielded "no compromise" on ending the conflict. Ushakov suggested that Russia's negotiating stance had been strengthened by recent battlefield developments.
Former President Trump indicated that the US negotiators, Witkoff and Kushner, perceived that Putin "would like to end the war."
Ukrainian and European Reactions
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybhia characterized Putin's actions as "wasting the world's time," while Ukraine's ambassador to the US stated that they do not "need to wait for promises from Russia."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently rejected ceding any Ukrainian territory and insists on robust security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any resolution. Zelensky remarked on Wednesday that "the world clearly feels that there is a real opportunity to end the war," but stressed that negotiations require "backed by pressure on Russia." Kyiv and its European allies have accused Russia of intentionally delaying ceasefire agreements.
Zelensky previously stated that Ukrainian negotiators had secured significant modifications to the initial US peace plan, which was perceived by some as favoring Moscow, during recent talks with an American delegation in Geneva. A joint statement from US and Ukrainian negotiators confirmed the development of an "updated and refined peace framework," though no specific details were disclosed. European negotiators, who had expressed concerns about the original US plan, also met separately with the Ukrainian and US teams in Geneva.
European Concerns Over Negotiations
Germany's Der Spiegel news website reported obtaining a confidential transcript of a conference call where European leaders voiced apprehension regarding the US negotiations. According to an English transcript of the call, French President Emmanuel Macron was reportedly quoted as saying, "There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly advised Zelensky to be "extremely careful in the coming days," stating, "They are playing games, both with you and with us." Finnish President Alexander Stubb was also quoted as saying, "We mustn't leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys."
The BBC has not verified the reported transcript. France's Élysée Palace denied that Macron made statements "in those terms," declining further detail due to confidentiality. Stubb declined to comment to Der Spiegel, and Merz has not commented. The White House has been contacted for comment.
Background of the Conflict
Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. In recent weeks, Russian forces have made advances in southeastern Ukraine.