Sudden Cancellation of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's Meeting with US Delegation Returning from Moscow

The scheduled meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the American delegation returning from Moscow, set for December 3, 2025, was abruptly called off, causing a noticeable stir within diplomatic circles. This decision followed extensive negotiations held in the Russian capital, yet official sources offered no immediate explanation for the sudden change in the President's agenda.

The US negotiating team was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump's son-in-law. On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the pair engaged in nearly five hours of consultations at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These discussions centered on the American peace proposal for Ukraine. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian President, later described the talks as constructive, highly beneficial, and substantive. However, he clarified that a definitive compromise had not been reached. Ushakov also noted that while Moscow considered the core elements of the American documents, accepting some aspects while rejecting others, the overall deadlock remained.

Reports from sources close to the negotiations indicated that the primary sticking points involved three non-negotiable positions asserted by Russia. These critical disagreements concerned the legal status of the Donbas territories, limitations on the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Russia's territorial claims. It is worth recalling that the initial American peace plan presented to Kyiv comprised 28 distinct points. Following subsequent consultations with the Ukrainian side in Geneva, this document was streamlined to 19 points in an effort to better accommodate national security interests.

Data from European air traffic controllers revealed that the American representatives' aircraft proceeded directly to Washington D.C., bypassing any intermediate stops in Europe. Analysts suggest this direct routing underscores the urgency of conducting an internal review of the Moscow round's outcomes before deciding on the next diplomatic steps. Furthermore, journalist Alex Raufoglu confirmed the cancellation of the Brussels meeting and President Zelenskyy's return to Ukraine.

In light of this cancellation, Rustem Umerov, the head of the Ukrainian delegation for peace talks, is confirmed to hold consultations with security advisors from various European nations in Brussels. Following these European discussions, he is slated to travel to the United States to debrief on the results obtained during the Moscow consultations. President Zelenskyy had previously expressed his readiness for a face-to-face meeting with President Trump, contingent upon the successful conclusion of the US-Russia consultations. The Ukrainian side indicated it would announce preparations for a new meeting with Trump administration representatives once positive signals were received.

This diplomatic maneuver, despite the optimistic language used regarding the Moscow discussions, clearly illustrates the significant gulf that persists between the parties on fundamental settlement issues. The ongoing effort to locate common ground within the framework of the American peace plan continues, necessitating further careful calibration of each side's stance.