MOSCOW REJECTS AMENDED PLAN
Kushner and Witkoff had been to current Putin with the brand new model of the US plan, which has been hammered out after the preliminary model raised fears in Kyiv and elsewhere in Europe that it made too many concessions to Moscow.
Ushakov mentioned the preliminary US plan was damaged down into 4 components, which had been mentioned in the course of the five-hour assembly within the Kremlin.
“There have been some factors we might agree on,” the highest Putin diplomatic aide mentioned, however “the president didn’t disguise our vital, even adverse, stance on quite a lot of proposals”.
Putin has demanded that Kyiv give up territory Moscow claims as its personal. The Kremlin additionally rejects any European power in Ukraine to observe a truce.
In his social media put up, Zelenskyy mentioned “essentially the most troublesome questions are about territories, about frozen (Russian) belongings … And about safety ensures.”
Nonetheless, the talks in Moscow had been “helpful”, Ushakov mentioned, and Russia and US positions didn’t turn out to be farther aside after it.
RUSSIAN PRESSURE
Putin appeared to ship a hawkish message shortly earlier than the US talks started.
He mentioned that Pokrovsk – an east Ukrainian stronghold that Russian forces say they just lately captured – was a “good foothold for fixing all of the duties set initially of the particular army operation”, utilizing the Kremlin’s time period for the warfare.
Aside from Pokrovsk, Kyiv is below stress on a number of fronts.
Russian forces superior swiftly in November in jap Ukraine, and Kyiv has been rocked by corruption scandals that ended with the resignation of its top negotiator on the conflict – Zelenskyy’s right-hand man.
Moscow has additionally stepped up drone and missile assaults on Ukraine in latest weeks, leaving lots of of 1000’s with out electrical energy and heating, with Zelenskyy accusing the Kremlin of making an attempt to “break” his nation.
The Russian chief additionally accused Europe of sabotaging a deal on the battle and despatched a grim message, saying: “We aren’t planning to go to warfare with Europe, but when Europe desires to and begins, we’re prepared proper now.”
Zelenskyy has mentioned he expects to debate key points with the US president and recommended Moscow’s actual motivation for the US talks was to ease Western sanctions.
KUSHNER INCLUDED
Europe is anxious Washington and Moscow might strike a deal over its head or power Ukraine into making unfair concessions.
The unique 28-point US plan revealed final month hewed so intently to Moscow’s calls for that it prompted accusations that Russia was concerned in drafting it, which Washington denied.
Bloomberg final month reported on an audio recording displaying that Witkoff helped coach Russian officers on how Putin ought to converse to Trump.
Witkoff has met with Putin a number of instances, however US media reported that it was the primary time that Kushner – who additionally helped dealer a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza earlier this 12 months – has joined talks with Putin.
