US Envoy Talks with Putin Conclude Amid Sticking Points on Ukraine Territory

High-level discussions aimed at brokering peace in Ukraine concluded late on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, following a nearly five-hour session at the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. This meeting, Witkoff's sixth with Putin since January 2025, focused on a revised peace framework presented by the American delegation.

Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as "useful and substantial" and "constructive" overall, though he confirmed that no definitive compromise was reached, particularly concerning the most sensitive territorial questions. The American envoys introduced a refined peace plan, reportedly reduced from an initial 28 points to between 19 and 27 points following prior consultations with Ukrainian officials in Geneva on November 23, 2025. The framework reportedly addressed a ceasefire, security assurances for Ukraine, limitations on the Ukrainian armed forces, NATO status, and post-war reconstruction efforts.

A critical unresolved issue remains the control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia, which includes Crimea, Donbas, and sections of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ushakov indicated that while Moscow deemed some U.S. proposals acceptable, others elicited a negative reaction, confirming that "much work remains to be done by both sides." Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer by background and Trump's envoy to the Russian presidency since May 2025, has been a central figure in these negotiations, often operating outside traditional diplomatic channels. Russian Direct Investment Fund chief Kirill Dmitriev also attended the extensive discussion.

The context of the meeting included President Putin issuing a warning to European governments, accusing them of actively hindering the U.S.-led peace efforts by introducing "absolutely unacceptable" amendments to the proposals. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was touring Europe at the time, maintained a cautious position, emphasizing that no resolution concerning Ukraine could be finalized without Kyiv's direct involvement. A White House official characterized the day's outcome as a "realistic but difficult first step."

The initial 28-point draft plan had previously drawn criticism from Kyiv and European governments for being overly favorable to Russia, including provisions for capping Ukraine's army at 600,000 troops and using $100 billion in frozen Russian assets for reconstruction. Following the dialogue, Ushakov indicated that contacts would persist at the level of presidential aides. Any future direct meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump would be contingent upon tangible progress in resolving the conflict's core issues. The next bilateral contacts between the U.S. and Russia are tentatively scheduled for December, with potential locations being Saudi Arabia or Turkey, underscoring the continued high-level focus on de-escalation efforts.