U.S. special envoy was meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, taking a draft that Washington hopes can bring about an end to the in Ukraine.
Putin, however, ahead of the talks accused Ukraine鈥檚 European allies of sabotaging U.S.-led efforts to end the war, calling their demands 鈥渁bsolutely unacceptable.鈥�
U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would join the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He said the talks would take 鈥渁s long as needed鈥� and involve only Witkoff, Kushner and an interpreter from the U.S. side.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Ireland during his European tour to sustain support against Russia鈥檚 invasion.
According to a draft of Trump’s plan obtained last month by The Associated Press, it would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyiv鈥檚 military. Ukraine and European allies have been working with U.S. officials to amend the plan.
Here is the latest:
Russian adviser: Future Putin-Trump meeting depends on progress
Asked about a possible meeting between Putin and Trump, Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said it depended on the progress of the peace effort.
When pressed about whether peace was closer or further, Ushakov said: 鈥淣ot further, that鈥檚 for sure.鈥� 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 still a lot of work to be done, both in Washington and in Moscow. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 been agreed upon. And contacts will continue,鈥� the official said.
Russian adviser says a 鈥渃ompromise hasn鈥檛 been found鈥� on Ukraine territories, but talks 鈥渃onstructive鈥�
Ushakov said 鈥渟o far, a compromise hasn鈥檛 been found鈥� on the issue of territories, 鈥渨ithout which we see no resolution to the crisis.鈥� While both sides could agree 鈥渙n some things,鈥� there were also proposals that evoked Moscow鈥檚 criticism and 鈥渆ven negative attitude,鈥� he said. He called the conversation that lasted for five hours 鈥渞ather useful, constructive and rather substantive鈥� and said the work will continue.
Russian envoy calls talks productive
Referring to the talks in a post on social platform X, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev simply wrote 鈥減roductive.鈥�
Witkoff arrives at US Embassy
After the end of the talks, U.S. envoy Witkoff was seen arriving at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. There were no immediate statements to the media.
Meeting between Russian and US delegations has finished
The talks lasted for almost five hours and both sides have yet to make a statement.
Talks with Putin pass the 3-1/2 hour mark
Talks between the U.S. and Russian delegations have now passed the 3-1/2 hour mark.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects to be briefed by the U.S. delegation immediately after the meeting ends.
Meeting has begun between Putin and US envoy
Putin is now meeting with Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow for talks on ending the fighting in Ukraine.
The meeting comes days after U.S. officials held talks with a Ukrainian delegation on the U.S. peace plan. U.S. Secretary of State told reporters it was 鈥減roductive鈥� but more work needed to be done.
Putin threatens retaliation over strikes on vessels carrying Russian oil
Putin also threatened retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on vessels carrying Russian oil in Turkey鈥檚 exclusive economic zone. He said Moscow would expand the range of its strikes against Ukrainian ports and ships.
He also said Moscow would 鈥渃onsider the possibility鈥� of retaliatory measures against the vessels of countries helping Ukraine to carry out such strikes.
Putin accuses Europe of not having a 鈥榩eace agenda鈥�
Putin has accused Ukraine鈥檚 European allies of sabotaging U.S.-led efforts to end the war, asserting that 鈥渢hey don鈥檛 have a peace agenda, they鈥檙e on the side of the war.鈥�
The Russian leader accused Europe of amending peace proposals with 鈥渄emands that are absolutely unacceptable to Russia,鈥� thus 鈥渂locking the entire peace process,鈥� only to blame Russia for it.
His remarks were in line with the narrative that Russia pushed after Trump came to office earlier this year and initiated talks with Moscow.
Putin urges journalists to visit areas he says are now in Russian hands
Speaking with journalists, Putin asserted that Moscow鈥檚 troops had taken control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. He said it has 鈥渟pecial significance鈥� because 鈥渇rom this base, from this sector, the Russian army can easily advance in any direction that the General Staff deems most promising.鈥�
Putin invited foreign journalists to visit Pokrovsk.
Ukraine has denied that Russian troops have taken control of the city. Ukraine鈥檚 General Staff described Putin鈥檚 new statements as 鈥渁 propaganda stunt.鈥� It said on social media that the Ukrainian army was preparing additional routes to deliver supplies to troops in the area.
Zelenskyy says US taking 鈥榮erious steps to end the war in one way or another鈥�
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Zelenskyy said: 鈥淭here are now 20 points that were drafted in Geneva, and were finalized in Florida. Some things still have to be worked on.
鈥淔rom what I鈥檝e seen, America takes serious steps to end the war in one way or another. And our mission, I am sure this is our common mission, of everyone in Europe, is to truly and this war and not just make a pause in hostilities.
鈥淲e need decent peace, and for it to truly happen, every one has to be on the side of peace.鈥�
鈥楿kraine belongs in the European Union鈥�
Ireland鈥檚 leader announced 125 million euros ($145 million) in new funding for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy鈥檚 visit to Dublin on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Miche谩l Martin said his government will provide 100 million euros in non-lethal military assistance and 25 million euros to support Ukraine鈥檚 energy system.
He said Russia has been 鈥渄eliberately, cynically鈥� attacking Ukraine鈥檚 energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
Martin said Ireland would try to push forward negotiations on Ukraine joining the European Union, saying: 鈥淯kraine is part of our European family. It shares the same values. It belongs in the European Union.鈥�
Zelenskyy arrives in Ireland
Zelenskyy was received at Government Buildings in Dublin by an honor guard and a military band playing the Ukrainian and Irish national anthems.
Earlier he visited President Catherine Connolly at her official residence. He wrote in the visitor鈥檚 book: 鈥淥n behalf of the people of Ukraine, I express my sincere gratitude for Ireland鈥檚 steadfast support during our fight against Russian aggression.鈥�
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