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US Envoys Leave Moscow Without Peace Deal—Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Awaits US Signal
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Secret US–Russia peace talks inside the Kremlin dragged past midnight but ended without a breakthrough, with Vladimir Putin rejecting key American proposals as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy and independent analysts warned that Moscow’s claims of progress don’t match battlefield reality.
High-level US–Russia negotiations over ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine stretched late into the night inside the Kremlin, but the two sides failed to reach a compromise, Russian officials said after the nearly five-hour meeting that wrapped around 12:30 a.m. local time, Deutsche Welle reported on December 3.
The talks brought together Russian leader Vladimir Putin, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, and special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Representing the United States were President Donald Trump’s special envoy Stephen Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
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Kremlin: “No compromise” yet on Ukraine
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ushakov said several different US proposals for stopping the war were discussed. In addition to Washington’s initial peace plan, Russia received four additional documents outlining alternative options.
According to Ushakov, Putin made clear he had “a critical and even negative attitude toward a number of the proposals.” The discussions touched directly on territorial issues, long the most contentious element of any potential settlement.
⚡️ Russia says there’s “no compromise” after five hours of Putin–Witkoff talks.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) December 2, 2025
Moscow claims only some American ideas “look acceptable,” but they still need “more discussion,” Putin’s aide Ushakov said. pic.twitter.com/QPfLrr1Zre
“So far no compromise option has been found,” Ushakov said, according to a Kremlin transcript. “Some American ideas look more or less acceptable. But they need to be discussed. Some of the wording proposed to us does not suit us. So the work will continue.”
Despite the lack of progress, Ushakov described the negotiations as “useful, constructive, and substantive.” Asked whether the talks brought the prospect of peace any closer, he replied: “Not further—that’s for sure. But much more work is needed, both in Washington and in Moscow.”
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov attend a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 2, 2025
🟠 LIVE updates: https://t.co/uMIFPWhap1 pic.twitter.com/FgJxTxY1Nc
Talks kept strictly secret; delegation returning to Washington
Ushakov stressed the discussion was “completely closed and secret,” and both sides agreed not to reveal the substance of what was said.
He added that Witkoff and Kushner will brief Trump personally after returning to Washington, and only then is the next round of communication expected.
“They did not promise us they would go to Kyiv,” Ushakov said. “They promised to return home, to Washington.”
A date for the next meeting has not been set and won’t be decided until the US side reports back to Trump and re-establishes contact with Moscow.
Zelenskyy: no illusions, waiting for US signals
As Kremlin talks unfolded, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he does not expect “simple decisions” regarding how the war will end. He noted that Kyiv is awaiting word from the US delegation after their meetings in Russia.
“The US delegation wants to report directly to us right after the meetings,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The next steps depend on these signals.”
Ukraine will be waiting for signals from the American delegation after its meetings in Russia. The U.S. delegation intends to brief us directly immediately after those meetings. The next steps will depend on those signals.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 2, 2025
We will receive signals of one kind or another. If the…
He added that he is prepared for a rapid in-person meeting with US representatives, including Trump, depending on the outcome of the talks.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the North Atlantic Alliance will take part in discussions about the NATO-related elements of a potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
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