RUSSIA and the United States failed to reach a peace deal over Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine following highly anticipated crunch talks in Moscow.
Donald Trump’s top diplomatic duo Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met the Russian tyrant and his cronies for a five-hour meeting – but failed to clinch a breakthrough plan to end the bloodshed.
Kremlin mouthpiece Yuri Ushakov, who was present alongside Vlad at the summit, said the group’s discussion was “useful, constructive and meaningful”.
He added that Witkoff was asked by Putin to “convey a number of important political signals to Trump”.
Noting that peace was “no closer but also no further away”, Ushakov explained the two sides had failed to reach an agreement on one of the most difficult issues – territorial disputes.
Witkoff has headed to the US embassy in Moscow, seemingly to update the Don on the group’s progress.
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Top Putin aide Kirill Dmitriev who posted a picture of himself alongside Witkoff said on X after the talks: “Productive.”
Trump’s peace squad’s visit came after war-hungry Putin raged that Russia is “ready right now” to fight with Europe.
Mad Vlad hinted Russia was ready for World War Three earlier on Tuesday, saying: “We’re not going to fight Europe, but if Europe wants to fight us, we’re ready right now.”
The despot also said that European powers were making demands on a possible peace settlement for Ukraine that Moscow considers absolutely unacceptable.
Putin’s fighting talk came before he greeted the US delegation to the Russian capital for the latest round of Ukraine peace talks which lasted nearly five hours.
The key discussions came after weeks of behind-the-scenes diplomacy with global leaders – signalling a possible breakthrough in efforts to bring an end to the war.
Kushner, 44, and Witkoff, 68, were entrusted by Trump to help bring about an end to the almost four-year war and finally stop the Kremlin tyrant.
At the start of the talks, the American pair were asked about their stay in the Russian capital so far.
Witkoff praised Moscow as a “magnificent city” and hailed Putin’s leadership in an unconcealed effort to butter up the Russian dictator.
The US is determined to get both sides on the same page over how the conflict can end with certain peace terms already being hashed out.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X following a visit to Ireland today: “We must end this war in a way that prevents Russia from coming back a year later with a third invasion.”
He said: “The Russians started the war, and there is no other way to put it.
“The whole world is a witness. They came with aggression to destroy us.”
The Zel added: “They will return, and Russia will continue building up its military strength, preparing for yet another invasion.
“This is why we want clarity. This is what Ukrainians need.”
The wartime leader also hailed Ireland for “doing the right thing” as premier Micheal Martin pledged to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
The US delegation is expected to travel to meet Zelensky after they leave the Kremlin to update him on the latest negotiations.
Washington and Moscow are currently focusing today’s crunch talks on two possible peace plans put forward in recent weeks.
The first is a 28-point plan based on many of Putin’s demands which he told Trump about during their Alaskan summit.
It was reportedly devised by Witkoff and Kremlin official Dmitriev.
The plan was seen as highly favourable towards Russia and included Ukraine halving their armed forces and giving up swathes of territory.
Ukraine and their European allies said it would be impossible to ever agree to such terms.
They instead joined forces to redraft a tighter 19-point plan in Geneva which “refines” what the US had proposed.
Both plans were discussed in Moscow now with Kushner and Witkoff looking to leave Russia with an ironclad deal to take back to President Trump.
This will then be shared with Kyiv where further talks can take place.
Across the past two days, officials from Ukraine and the US – including Witkoff and Kushner – have been holding separate talks in Florida.
Zelensky described the talks as “constructive”, but made it clear some “tough issues still need to be worked through”.
He met with France’s President Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for marathon meetings on Monday.
During a Parisian press conference, Zelensky said the 19-point peace deal was a big improvement on the original US-Russia plan.
Despite Zelensky’s insistence that a complete deal is still far off based on the current negotiations, the White House say they are “very optimistic” about reaching a deal soon.
Press secretary Caroline Leavitt added: “The president and his team have been working so hard on this effort and they all really want to see this war come to an end.”
One notable name missing from the US delegation is Marco Rubio – Trump’s secretary of state.
Rubio is widely seen as more sympathetic towards Ukraine’s fight for a fair deal to end the war.
Kushner, a savvy businessman and dad-of-three, and Witkoff, now a seasoned peace broker under Trump, are both seen as much firmer voices.
Kushner, the husband of Ivanka Trumphas grown into an increasingly active role in US diplomacy under Trump in recent months.
This is despite him having no formal role in the White House.
The Harvard graduate served as Senior Adviser to President Trump between 2017 and 2021.
Witkoff also has a positive past in Moscow and has met with Putin on several occasions.
One of the main issues yet to be ironed out in the negotiations is how the land seized by Russia during the war will be divided up.
Putin has been adamant that he must be handed over some key regions in Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukraine have dismissed this saying they would never cede territory.
Russia has already seized twice as much land in November compared to October, according to Ukrainian war trackers.
But the US based Study of War Institute insisted: “Russian battlefield victory is neither imminent nor inevitable.”
Russia has been unable to break down Kyiv’s forces in Donetsk, leaving a third of the region still under Ukrainian control.
The debate over Donetsk has ramped up again in recent days after Putin claimed his men had seized all of Pokrovsk.
Russian fighters were seen brandishing the national flag in the fortress city as the Kremlin tried to convince the world frontline battleground had finally fallen.
But Ukraine blasted the despot for lying about the capture of Pokrovsk as they claimed the Russian flag bearers actually fled the city in fear.