A senior advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin has described recent US-Russia discussions on a peace plan for Ukraine as productive, while simultaneously acknowledging that considerable work is still needed. The talks, held at the Kremlin on Tuesday, saw President Putin meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in an effort to de-escalate the nearly four-year conflict. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s advisor, indicated a mixed reception to proposals, stating that some American suggestions were “more or less acceptable” and confirmed by the President, while others elicited criticism. “Other things provoked criticism, and the president also didn’t hide our critical and even negative attitude toward a number of proposals,” Ushakov relayed. He emphasized that “the work will continue” to reconcile differing viewpoints. Previously, a crucial meeting took place in Florida, where a Ukrainian delegation discussed the peace plan with senior US officials. Post-meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a cautiously optimistic outlook, noting “some signs of progress.” A peace proposal recently made public has been a significant point of contention. This plan, widely seen as aligning with Russian demands, reportedly requires Ukraine to surrender the Donbas region entirely and withdraw its NATO membership bid. Ukrainian officials have strongly refuted these conditions, labeling them unacceptable. Reports suggest the plan has since been amended, though the specifics of these revisions have not yet been clarified.
