Moscow Declares Peace Talks Inconclusive as Russia Warns of European War Readiness

High-level peace negotiations between Russia and the United States concluded without progress Tuesday, delivering a setback to Trump administration efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. Senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov acknowledged that five hours of discussions between President Putin and Trump representatives produced no advancement toward resolution, confirming substantial work remained before any settlement could be achieved.
Putin used the diplomatic occasion to launch verbal attacks against European governments, claiming they were sabotaging peace initiatives and blocking American attempts to resolve the crisis. The Russian leader issued a stark warning that while Russia did not intend to fight Europe, Moscow stood prepared for immediate conflict if European powers initiated hostilities. Putin’s aggressive rhetoric appeared designed to exploit or create divisions between the Trump administration and its European allies.
The negotiations centered on an updated American peace proposal that had undergone revisions to incorporate Russian feedback and address Ukrainian concerns. Despite the meeting’s constructive tone, Ushakov revealed that specific proposals were not examined in granular detail, with discussions focusing instead on core concepts. Putin reportedly found some elements acceptable while expressing critical and negative reactions to multiple provisions, with certain negotiation aspects designated as confidential.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy maintained engagement throughout the diplomatic process, stating his readiness to receive updates from the US delegation and expressing willingness to meet with Trump directly. The Ukrainian leader has been actively consulting European capitals to build support for peace plan modifications, particularly regarding an earlier 28-point framework he found unacceptable. Zelenskyy has consistently rejected requirements to surrender currently controlled territory and accept military limitations without receiving concrete Western security guarantees.
The diplomatic impasse persists against a backdrop of continued military operations, with Putin claiming recent Russian territorial gains and threatening escalated strikes on Ukrainian maritime infrastructure. Russia maintains maximalist demands that effectively require Ukrainian capitulation, including severe military reductions, prohibition of Western assistance, far-reaching political constraints, and acquisition of Ukrainian-controlled eastern territories. Trump characterized the situation as complex without easy solutions, while skepticism grows about Russia’s genuine interest in compromise.