Putin Holds Firm on Ukraine: Russia’s Territorial Demands Remain as US Peace Talks Face Major Hurdles

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that an immediate end to the war in Ukraine remains difficult, as Moscow and Kyiv continue to be divided over territory and the terms of a potential peace agreement.

During a meeting in Moscow with US President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Putin described the situation surrounding the Ukraine conflict as extremely difficult and fragile. At the same time, he praised Trump’s efforts to bring the nearly four-year-old war to an end.

Putin said Trump had continued his efforts to find a negotiated settlement despite the complexities involved. He expressed appreciation for the US president’s efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The meeting came after Trump said on Friday that the United States had presented a new proposal aimed at ending the war, although he did not publicly disclose the details of the plan.

US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow

Before heading to the Kremlin, Witkoff and Kushner were received in Moscow by Putin’s foreign-policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

The two US representatives were subsequently taken to a restaurant before proceeding to the Kremlin for their meeting with Putin.

Their visit comes as Washington seeks to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing an end to the conflict.

Temporary Ceasefire Before Talks

Ahead of the diplomatic engagement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ordered Russian forces to suspend attacks on Kyiv for three days, beginning at midnight on Saturday.

The temporary pause coincides with the planned movement of the US envoys toward the Ukrainian capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Witkoff and Kushner before their planned visit to Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv was also prepared to refrain from attacks on Moscow until Monday.

Territory Remains the Biggest Roadblock

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, major differences remain between Moscow and Kyiv.

A source close to the Kremlin indicated that Putin remains committed to Russia’s territorial objectives in Ukraine. Moscow reportedly believes that a settlement along the current front line is unlikely unless Russia secures control over the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of the Donetsk region.

Ukraine, however, has firmly rejected demands to surrender territory captured and defended at a heavy human cost.

Kyiv argues that accepting such conditions would effectively amount to surrender rather than a genuine peace agreement.

Peace Efforts Continue Amid Deep Differences

The latest talks underline the enormous challenge facing US-led diplomatic efforts. While Washington is pushing for a negotiated settlement, Russia and Ukraine remain sharply divided over territory, security arrangements and the terms of any potential ceasefire.

With neither side appearing ready to concede on its core demands, the path to a lasting peace agreement remains uncertain.