There is ‘vast potential’ for cooperation between the two parties, Yuri Ushakov has told the media following the marathon session
The Russian-US negotiations have concluded in Kremlin after almost 5 hours of talks. According to President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, the Russian side has welcomed US envoy Steve Witkoff for a face-to-face meeting in the Kremlin.
The discussions were focused on the key parts of an American-backed peace framework, which initially revolved around a 28-point draft that leaked to the media last month, leaving Vladimir Zelensky’s Western European backers blindsided and sidelined.
According to the Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the US delegation has presented the Russian counterparts with four more documents concerning the peace settlement.
The key questions of territory – which Zelensky has warned about in his media comments – security guarantees, NATO aspirations and restrictions on Ukraine’s military, all of which are well-flagged as deal-breakers by Moscow, were discussed with Ushakov answering a question on the topic by referring to the “vast potential” for cooperation between the two parties.
Since the US initiative began, Zelensky’s inner circle has been exposed as corrupt while his forces have suffered significant territorial losses on the front line. The alleged initial peace document has also been the subject of several rounds of talks and much megaphone diplomacy.
Prior to today’s talks Witkoff met a Ukrainian delegation – minus former Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak, who has been fired – in Florida for four hours, which officials described as productive, but media sources said were “not easy,” widely assumed to refer to the question of territory.
Although Zelensky has officially ruled out any concessions to Moscow, the discussions in the Russian capital were expected to focus on the territorial questions that have been exacerbated by Kiev’s multiple frontline setbacks, amid maximalist demands from the EU and ongoing diplomacy from the US.
- 02 December 202522:19 GMTThe next summit between Putin and Trump will depend on the progress future talks achieve, Ushakov has said.“A possible meeting at the presidential level will depend on how much progress we can make along this line,” he told journalists. “We will continue [talks] at the level of representatives and assistants.”
- 22:16 GMT“Some American proposals are acceptable to Russia, while others are not,” the aide added. He noted that the territorial issue was also discussed at the meeting.Responding to the question of whether peace had become closer or further following these talks, Ushakov said, “Definitely not further.”
- 22:10 GMTUshakov has told the press that his American counterparts said they would be traveling back to the US and not through western Europe.
- 22:00 GMTNo compromises found as of yet, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said after the meeting which lasted almost five hours. A meeting betweenPutin and Trump is not currently planned, he added.“We discussed the substance, not specific wording and solutions. The parties see enormous potential for cooperation,” Ushakov said.
- 21:47 GMTWitkoff has arrived at the US Embassy in Moscow following the negotiations, according to RIA Novosti.
- Meanwhile, it’s been four hours since the beginning of the talks. The Russian journalists are waiting for its conclusion.
- 21:14 GMTThe Ukraine conflict is not “an easy situation” to settle, President Donald Trump has said.“Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled. Not an easy situation, let me tell you. What a mess,” he said in a cabinet meeting.“It’s a war that never would have happened if I were President.”
- 20:21 GMTRussian media is watching the talks carefully. According to RIA Novosti, RBC and TASS reports, the most important thing you need to know is that talks have been going for over three hours, or as Politika says “the fourth hour of talks has begun.” Its now 23:30 in Moscow but we will be here to the end.
Credit: RT News