Putin's assistant acknowledges the need for more work after Witkoff and Kushner meeting

A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that significant work remains following a meeting in Moscow between Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff with President Putin on Tuesday. The discussions occurred amid efforts by Mr. Trump to find a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and lasted approximately five hours, shortly after U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks in Florida over the weekend.

Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to Putin, described the discussions as "constructive, very useful, and substantive," but noted that no resolution had been reached on the ongoing territorial disputes in Ukraine. "The territorial issue is the key matter for both sides. No compromise has been finalized yet, though certain American proposals are somewhat acceptable and will require further discussion," Ushakov explained.

Ushakov emphasized that "we are not closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is still much work ahead." He mentioned that Moscow received four additional documents beyond the 28-point plan previously submitted by the Trump administration, though he did not disclose their contents. Both countries agreed not to make the details of the discussions public.

No direct meeting between Putin and Mr. Trump is currently planned, but Putin asked Kushner and Witkoff to convey "important political messages" to Mr. Trump. Following their return to the U.S., they are expected to brief Trump and then follow up with Russian officials via phone.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the Florida talks with Ukrainian officials, described the sessions as "productive," but noted that "there are many moving parts." After the weekend discussions, Mr. Trump expressed optimism, saying, "I think theres a good chance for a deal."

The original U.S.-backed peace plan, revealed last month, has undergone revisions after criticism that it favored Russia too heavily. One contentious element initially proposed that Ukraine cede parts of Donetsk to Russia. Mr. Trump said that Russia is "making significant concessions" by halting offensive operations and refraining from further territorial expansion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the plan had been reduced to 20 points following discussions in Geneva and Florida. He indicated that Ukraine will "await signals from the American delegation" after their meetings in Russia, adding that if these signals are favorable, he is prepared to meet with the American team, including potentially President Trump himself.

Putin has described the proposals as "topics for discussion" rather than a formal agreement. While a U.S. official mentioned that Ukraine had "agreed to a peace deal," and some understanding on key points was reached, Moscow cautioned that it is "premature" to consider the sides close to a final agreement. Trump expressed optimism that only a few points of disagreement remain.

Author: Sophia Brooks