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Russia leaves door open to new Ukraine peace talks
Russia is leaving the door open to new peace talks with Ukraine following a weekend of intense American diplomacy, but major obstacles remain to ending the war, now in its fifth year.
By Stefan J. Bos
Moscow said Monday it does not rule out renewed peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
“We also do not rule out the resumption of this trilateral format, but it is premature to talk about the venue and the exact timing at this stage,” Peskov said through an interpreter.
“Of course, any efforts that are more or less effective are one small step towards peace,” he added.
Envoys arrive by train
Following their talks in Moscow, Kushner and Witkoff travelled to Kyiv by train from Poland, with Zelenskyy saying Russian strikes had prevented them from flying into the Ukrainian capital.
Russia and Ukraine had agreed to refrain from striking each other’s capitals during the American delegation’s visits.
Zelenskyy joked that the presence of the two U.S. envoys had done even more than Patriot air defenses to protect Kyiv, urging them to come more often so its residents could “live a little.”
US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visits Kyiv (ANSA)
The Kremlin described Saturday’s talks with Putin as “highly useful,” while the Americans called their subsequent discussions with Zelenskyy “encouraging.” Neither meeting produced a breakthrough.
Territory remains obstacle
One of the biggest obstacles remains territory. Putin insists Russia intends to take the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of the eastern Donetsk region.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine cannot reward Russia for its invasion by simply surrendering territory and says such questions ultimately need to be discussed by the countries’ leaders. Security guarantees for Ukraine are another sticking point.
Winter support discussed
In Kyiv, Zelenskyy discussed air defenses, including additional Patriot systems, and what he called a “winter package” of American and European support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
He acknowledged that the fighting now appeared likely to continue into another winter.
The U.S. envoys nevertheless sounded cautiously optimistic. Witkoff said both Russia and Ukraine would have to compromise but added that Washington believes it has the “ingredients” needed to move toward an agreement.
US peace envoys meet with President Zelenskyy (ANSA)
Kushner said the weekend mission had produced new ideas for advancing the negotiations.
More talks expected
The Americans are now hoping another round of U.S.-mediated Russian-Ukrainian talks can be announced soon.
Ukraine, the United States and European representatives have also agreed to hold another meeting, although its location has not yet been decided.
Yet fighting continues despite the diplomatic push.
Russian-appointed authorities in occupied Crimea said a Ukrainian drone attack on Sevastopol killed two people, including a teenage girl, while Ukraine said it struck Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery hundreds of kilometers inside Russian territory.
Shopping mall destroyed by fire following drone strike in Donetsk region
Fighting continues
Moscow also said its forces struck a Ukrainian cargo vessel in the Black Sea that it claimed was carrying Western-supplied military equipment.
The clashes underscored that despite renewed diplomatic momentum, the fundamental question remains unresolved: whether Moscow and Kyiv are prepared to make the compromises Washington says will be necessary to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict in generations.
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