Vladimir Putin met with US negotiators on Tuesday for five hours of discussions aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting included US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is related to former President Donald Trump, and was characterized by a Russian official as “productive.” However, specific details from the talks remain undisclosed.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions following Putin’s statements rejecting European demands related to a proposed US-Russia peace plan. He indicated that Russia would be prepared for conflict if Europe persisted in its demands. Following the discussions with Moscow, US representatives recently met with Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism about the potential to conclude the war but noted that certain aspects of the proposals needed further negotiation.
Zelensky suggested that achieving peace hinged on these discussions, stating, “Everything depends on today’s discussions.” He mentioned the importance of Ukraine’s participation in peace talks and stressed the need for clear security guarantees, such as NATO membership, which has traditionally been opposed by Russia.
The talks in Moscow surfaced amidst ongoing military engagements in Ukraine, particularly in the eastern city of Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s military refuted claims from Russia that it had captured the city, asserting that Ukrainian forces still controlled parts of it. As the conflict intensifies, reports indicate significant casualties on both sides, with tens of thousands of soldiers killed or injured and numerous civilian victims.
Since the onset of hostilities in February 2022, the conflict has inflicted heavy damage on Ukrainian infrastructure, particularly targeting civilian sites. The war traces back to 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea following the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyv0ex7v8ro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss