US-Russia talks on Ukraine end without progress

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin for five hours at the Kremlin, but both sides failed to reach a deal to end the war. 

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks “useful” and “constructive,” yet said they couldn’t bridge differences on territory—the biggest sticking point. 

Moscow continues to demand control of all of Donbas, a concession Ukraine firmly rejects.

Before the meeting, Putin accused Europe of trying to sabotage peace efforts and warned he would fight Europe if attacked. His comments intensified tensions with European allies already uneasy about a leaked US draft plan that appeared to favor Russia.

Photos from Russian media showed Witkoff and Kushner discussing a revised peace plan shaped with input from US, Ukrainian, and European officials. Kyiv insists that strong security guarantees and territorial control remain non-negotiable.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed it captured Pokrovsk, a key eastern city, but Ukraine said it still holds the northern sector and continues to repel Russian advances.