**Russia, ‘Constructive Dialogue’ Self-assessment on Territorial Issues “No Compromise Found Yet”**
A marathon late-night negotiation took place in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and a U.S. delegation, including Steve Witkoff, a special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, discussed a proposal to end the conflict in Ukraine.
While the details of the meeting were not disclosed, there are reports that disagreements over territorial issues persist. President Putin reportedly accepted only parts of the U.S. ceasefire proposal and expressed negative views on other suggestions.
According to news outlets like Reuters and AP, the meeting, which began at the Kremlin, concluded after five hours. Both parties agreed not to disclose the specifics of the talks.
Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to President Putin, described the discussions with Witkoff as useful, constructive, and meaningful. They mainly focused on the framework of the U.S. proposal rather than specific wording.
When asked if this meeting brought them closer to peace, Ushakov reportedly answered, “What is certain is that we have not moved further away.” He emphasized that both Russia and the U.S. still have significant work ahead and stated that further discussions will continue.
Ushakov acknowledged disagreements on the ceasefire proposal, noting areas both agreed and disagreed upon, particularly the crucial territorial issues, yet no compromise has been reached there. Without a resolution on this matter, a solution remains elusive.
The Trump administration initially drafted a ceasefire proposal with 28 articles, which was later condensed to 20 after incorporating Ukrainian feedback. The draft initially included provisions that were favorites of Russia but faced opposition from Ukraine and Europe, leading to their removal or postponement for discussion in future meetings.
During the session, multiple versions of the proposal were addressed, indicating ongoing modifications to reach consensus. Alongside Ushakov and Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also participated in the discussions, while Witkoff promptly left Moscow post-meeting.