U.S.–Russia Talks on Ukraine "Productive," Putin Adviser Claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin in talks as part of a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a peace deal to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Trump’s peace plan has drawn criticism for appearing heavily tilted toward Moscow.  (Photo: The White House)

Both sides agreed not to disclose the substance of the discussions.

The meeting followed talks days earlier between US officials and a Ukrainian delegation in Florida, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described in cautiously optimistic terms.

At the center of the diplomatic push is Trump’s peace plan, unveiled last month, which drew criticism for appearing heavily tilted toward Moscow.

The proposal granted several of the Kremlin’s core demands that Kyiv has rejected as nonstarters, including ceding the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia and renouncing its bid to join NATO.

Negotiators have since said the framework has evolved, though details remain unclear.

International law forbids the use of war to expand national territory — precisely what Putin did by invading Ukraine.