Putin holds over 4-hour meeting with Witkoff and Kushner.

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Tuesday to discuss potential paths to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Just prior to the meeting, Putin warned that any European military confrontation with Russia would result in a rapid defeat and dismissed European counter-proposals on Ukraine as completely unacceptable.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to end the war, including a previous summit with Putin in Alaska and talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but these efforts have not yielded peace. Last week, a leaked set of 28 U.S. draft peace proposals caused concern among Ukrainian and European officials, as they appeared to meet Moscows main demands, including limits on NATO expansion, Russian control over part of Ukraine, and restrictions on Ukraines military. European nations later offered a counter-proposal, and U.S. and Ukrainian officials stated in Geneva that they had developed an updated and refined peace framework to resolve the conflict.

During the Kremlin visit, Putin greeted Witkoff warmly and inquired about his and Kushners tour of Moscow, which included a walk across Red Square past Lenins mausoleum to the Kremlin towers. Witkoff described Moscow as a magnificent city. The talks, with interpreters present, extended late into the night, lasting over four hours.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that both sides agreed not to disclose the details of the discussions. The American team will report back to Trump, and no compromise on territorial issues has yet been reached. Trump earlier remarked that the situation was difficult, with 25,000 to 30,000 casualties per month.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, overseeing revisions to the peace plan to address Ukrainian and European concerns, said Witkoffs goal was to end the war. Before the meeting, Putin accused Europe of attempting to block Trumps peace initiatives by presenting proposals Russia would never accept. He emphasized that Europes actions were intended to obstruct the peace process and reiterated that Russia did not seek war with Europe but warned it would respond decisively if one occurred.

Putin also threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea following drone attacks on Russian tankers in the Black Sea. Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha indicated that Putins statements showed a lack of commitment to ending the conflict. Currently, Russian forces occupy more than 19% of Ukraine, approximately 115,600 square km (45,000 square miles), with advances in 2025 marking their fastest progress since 2022. Despite nearly four years of war, Russia has not achieved full control over Ukraine, which continues to receive support from the U.S. and European nations.

President Zelensky, speaking from Dublin, emphasized that the outcome would depend on the Moscow talks, expressing concern that U.S. interest in the peace process could wane. He stressed the importance of fair and transparent negotiations.

Putin described the discussions as a potential foundation for future agreements but warned that if Ukraine rejects a deal, Russian forces would continue advancing. Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 marked the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. The conflict initially began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was ousted in Ukraine, leading to the annexation of Crimea and ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine.

In a video released before Witkoffs visit, Putin highlighted what he described as Russias capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces maintain control over parts of the city and have launched counterattacks. U.S. officials estimate the war has resulted in over 1.2 million killed or wounded, though neither Ukraine nor Russia reports precise figures. The war has caused extensive destruction and displaced many civilians.

Since the release of the U.S. draft proposals, European nations have sought to strengthen Ukraine against what they view as a potentially punitive peace deal that could favor Russian economic interests. Key Russian demands include preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, limiting the Ukrainian military, controlling Donbas, and securing recognition of Russian claims to Crimea, Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, alongside protections for Russian speakers. Ukraine considers these demands a surrender and believes they could leave the country vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Washington has also suggested a 10-year security guarantee for Kyiv.

Ukraine and its European allies view the conflict as a land grab by Moscow and warn that a Russian victory could eventually threaten NATO members. Zelensky has stated that Russia must not be rewarded for initiating the war.

Author: Sophia Brooks