Kremlin Rejects Key Peace Terms as Putin Warns Europe of Immediate War Readiness

Efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine war suffered a significant setback Tuesday following unproductive negotiations in Moscow between Russian leadership and American diplomatic representatives. The intensive five-hour discussion involving President Putin and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded without resolving core disputes, especially regarding territorial demarcation lines that would underpin any peace settlement.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov offered measured praise for the talks, calling them extraordinarily valuable and constructive, but straightforwardly acknowledged they produced no tangible movement toward conflict resolution. While certain aspects of the American peace proposal received favorable Russian assessment, Putin voiced pointed criticism and rejection of several essential provisions. Ushakov indicated portions of the negotiations would remain undisclosed and downplayed prospects for arranging an immediate meeting between Trump and Putin.
The diplomatic deadlock followed Putin’s stark morning declarations to Europe, asserting Russia’s complete preparedness for immediate continental warfare should hostilities commence. In aggressive opening statements before negotiations began, the Russian leader accused European powers of actively undermining peace initiatives and blocking American administration efforts to achieve resolution. Putin declared that European conditions for ending the conflict were entirely unacceptable to Russian interests, though he withheld specifics about which requirements provoked his strongest objections.
Zelenskyy indicated readiness to hear from the American delegation and showed willingness to engage in direct talks with Trump. The Ukrainian president has conducted an active diplomatic campaign throughout European capitals, seeking backing for revisions to a previous 28-point peace framework that Ukrainian officials condemned as excessively accommodating to Russian demands. Zelenskyy has particularly resisted proposals requiring Ukraine to abandon territory presently under its control in eastern regions and accept limitations on military capacity, while demanding concrete security assurances against future Russian military threats.
The negotiations constituted Witkoff’s sixth Moscow trip this year, arriving with a revised peace proposal allegedly modified to better accommodate Ukrainian concerns. Nonetheless, deep skepticism persists about whether Russia authentically seeks negotiated settlement or simply calculates that Washington’s relationships with European allies will continue fragmenting. Trump acknowledged the complex nature of the crisis without straightforward solutions, while Putin maintained emphasis on Russian military momentum and battlefield gains throughout Ukrainian territory.