Russia and Ukraine signal willingness for further US-mediated talks, but no breakthrough on territory or peace terms has been achieved
MOSCOW: Russia and Ukraine have signalled readiness for further talks with the United States to end the nearly four-year war.
The announcement follows a meeting in the Kremlin between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which ended without a breakthrough.
The Kremlin stated no compromise was found on the crucial issue of territories.
“We are still ready to meet as many times as is needed to reach a peace settlement,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
He added that Moscow had told the Americans what was “unacceptable” to them, but insisted it was incorrect to say Putin had rejected the US peace plan in its entirety.
The US officials brought an updated version of a plan to end the conflict after holding discussions with Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated any deal must offer lasting peace and ensure Moscow does not attack again.
As the US envoys returned from Moscow, Zelensky announced his top negotiator and army ground chief were headed to Brussels for a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting.
They will also travel to the US to meet with Trump’s envoys.
NATO chief Mark Rutte emphasised the alliance’s continued support for Ukraine despite the talks.
“The peace talks are ongoing, that’s good, but at the same time, we have to make sure… that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going,” Rutte said.
European countries fear Washington and Moscow will reach agreements without them, seeking to amend the US plan to avoid forcing Kyiv to capitulate.
Tensions between Moscow and Europe were palpable, with Putin issuing a stark warning ahead of the US meeting.
“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” he said.
His spokesman later accused Europe of being “obsessed with inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia”.
The diplomatic moves come as Moscow’s army continues to advance, recently claiming control of the east Ukrainian hub of Pokrovsk and a village in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Russia occupies large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Putin insists Kyiv must surrender the four Ukrainian regions Moscow has claimed as its own for any peace deal. – AFP
