No Consensus on Territorial Issues in U.S.–Russia Talks Putin: “We Are Ready to Fight Europe” | WPN World People News

Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Kremlin with U.S. negotiator Tim Swieczkowski and former President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss possible ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The talks lasted five hours. Both sides described the meeting as constructive, but said there was still no consensus on territorial matters.

Putin criticized European countries for undermining President Trump’s peace efforts. Speaking in a harsh tone, he warned Europe that if European nations choose to go to war with Russia, the conflict “will end very quickly for Europe—so quickly that we won’t even be able to find anyone left to negotiate with.”

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year, with casualties reaching into the millions, Putin’s remarks have further heightened tensions between Russia and Europe. He accused Europe of proposing peace plans that they knew Russia could not accept, saying the intention to obstruct negotiations was obvious, and that this allows them to blame Russia for rejecting peace. He added that by cutting off communication with Moscow, European countries had essentially excluded themselves from the peace process and placed themselves on the side of war.

Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the conflict has become Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II. European nations have provided strong financial and military support to Ukraine, helping it reduce its dependence on Russian energy while simultaneously strengthening their own military capacity to prevent Moscow from seizing more territory by force. After nearly four years of war, Putin has still been unable to fully control Ukraine, while Ukraine and its European allies have repeatedly warned that a Russian victory would directly threaten NATO member states.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said that recent progress by Russian forces on the battlefield had positively influenced the peace talks held yesterday in Moscow with the U.S. envoy, describing the meeting as constructive and significant. He said that Ukraine’s potential accession to NATO was one of the key issues discussed, and added that he hoped Ukraine and its European allies would adopt a “more balanced attitude and perspective” toward the current situation.

Ushakov said after the meeting that both sides had carefully reviewed the new 19-point cease-fire draft proposed by the United States and Ukraine, but had not yet discussed any concrete plans or proposals. He stated that progress on territorial issues was “essentially zero.” When asked by reporters whether the talks had brought peace closer or pushed it further away, he responded that “it certainly hasn’t moved further away,” but emphasized that Washington and Moscow still had much to do and would continue negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to receive all outcomes of the talks and was ready to meet with President Trump, depending on how today’s discussions unfold.