Russian President Vladimir Putin, third right, Russian Presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, fourth right, and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries Kirill Dmitriev, right, attend talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, second left, and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, third, at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that certain aspects of a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine are unacceptable to the Kremlin. In remarks published on March 14, 2024, Putin’s comments underscore the challenges ahead in reaching a peace agreement, highlighting that substantive negotiations are still required.
The diplomatic initiative, spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, represents the most intensive effort to halt hostilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Yet, the latest round of discussions has encountered significant hurdles, particularly regarding territorial concessions and assurances for Ukraine’s future security against Russian aggression.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, alongside senior advisor Jared Kushner, is scheduled to meet with Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, later today in Miami. This meeting aims to further explore potential pathways to peace, according to a senior official from the Trump administration, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
During a five-hour dialogue with Witkoff and Kushner in the Kremlin earlier this week, Putin described the discussions as “necessary” and “useful,” though he acknowledged they were “difficult work.” He noted that they had to examine each aspect of the U.S. peace proposal, which he stated is why the discussions took considerable time. “This was a necessary conversation, a very concrete one,” he remarked, indicating that while Moscow is open to dialogue on some provisions, others remain off the table.
Trump characterized Witkoff and Kushner’s impressions of the talks as encouraging, stating that they believe Putin is interested in reaching a deal. “Their impression was very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump said on March 13, 2024.
Despite the forward momentum in negotiations, Putin refrained from specifying which elements of the proposal Russia could accept or reject. He cautioned that premature public speculation could jeopardize the peace process, emphasizing the need for discretion.
European leaders have voiced concerns about being sidelined in the U.S.-led diplomatic efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron recently met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, seeking to engage China in advocating for a ceasefire. Although Xi has shown strong diplomatic support for Russia, he expressed willingness to support peace initiatives without directly addressing Macron’s request.
As diplomatic discussions unfold, the conflict continues to escalate on the ground. Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities persisted into Thursday, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. In Kryvyi Rih, a missile attack wounded six individuals, including a three-year-old girl. The assault inflicted damage on over 40 residential buildings, a school, and domestic gas pipelines, according to local authorities.
In the southern city of Kherson, a six-year-old girl lost her life following artillery shelling a day prior, as reported by regional military administration head Oleksandr Prokudin. The Kherson Thermal Power Plant, essential for providing heat to over 40,000 residents, halted operations following relentless drone and artillery attacks from Russia. Emergency meetings have been convened to explore alternative heating solutions while tents have been erected for residents to warm themselves and charge electronic devices.
In addition to the strikes on Kryvyi Rih and Kherson, Russian forces targeted Odesa with drones, resulting in six injuries and damage to both civilian and energy infrastructure. Across the conflict zone, officials reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles and a staggering 138 drones overnight.
In a contrasting development, a Ukrainian drone strike in the Russia-occupied Kherson region killed two men in their vehicle, according to Moscow-installed regional leader Vladimir Saldo, who also reported that a 68-year-old woman was injured in the attack.
The ongoing violence emphasizes the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict. As diplomatic channels remain open, the international community watches closely, hopeful for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the suffering endured by civilians in Ukraine.
