The Kremlin has demonstrated that it dictates the terms. Russian President Vladimir Putin made US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner wait for three hours before talks in the Kremlin, Politico reports.
On 2 December, Witkoff and Kushner held negotiations with Putin in Moscow regarding the end of the war in Ukraine. After the meeting, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said that no compromise plan on Ukraine exists yet.
"Vladimir Putin used a blend of charm, calculated stalling and pointed threats to show US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner exactly where Russia stands on peace with Ukraine," reads the report.
A walk around Moscow, an elite restaurant, and no compromises
Witkoff, Trump’s special representative, and Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, spent time in Moscow, walking around the city and having lunch in an upscale restaurant while waiting for their Kremlin meeting on ending the war in Ukraine.
While the Americans killed time, Putin held a press conference at an investment forum, blaming Europe for derailing the peace process and hinting at further escalation.
“We’re not planning to wage a war with Europe, but if Europe decides to start a war, we’re ready right now,” he declared.
Talks began almost three hours later than the originally scheduled 5 p.m. time announced by Putin’s press secretary. The meeting concluded well past midnight local time.
Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, who attended the negotiations, called the meeting “productive” in a post on X. Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, also described the discussion as useful, constructive, and quite substantive, while adding that a lot of work still lies ahead.
According to Ushakov, Putin highlighted the destructive actions of the European side. Journalists note this as a sign he may try to shift blame for any future failure to reach a peace deal onto the EU.
Kremlin holds firm on its demand for Ukraine's capitulation
Ahead of the Moscow negotiations, Putin showed no sign of retreating from his requirement for Ukraine’s de facto capitulation.
Russian State Duma member Yevgeny Popov said that “no decisions will be made that would undermine Russia’s security. This must be clearly understood.”
So far, there is no indication that the talks on 2 December in Moscow will bring any change to Russia’s position.
