Kremlin: Talks with Washington Offer Promising Prospects

Russia and the United States are making progress in Ukraine peace talks, with the Kremlin confirming Moscow's willingness to continue working with the current American team. The developments come as intensive negotiations unfold between American and Ukrainian officials over a U.S.-drafted plan to end the war.

Putin held five hours of talks with U.S. representatives last Tuesday evening. The Kremlin says Russia accepted some parts of the American peace plan but rejected others. Now Moscow is waiting for Washington's response to those discussions.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksandr Byvs confirmed "a new meeting" is taking place, with chief Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov currently in Miami. According to informed sources, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Umerov in Florida this week, following another meeting on Friday. Witkoff briefed the Ukrainian official on his Moscow discussions with Putin.

What this means for the conflict

These talks represent the most serious diplomatic push since the war began nearly three years ago. But here's the thing - both sides still have major disagreements. Russia's selective acceptance of the U.S. plan suggests significant gaps remain between what Moscow wants and what Ukraine and its allies are willing to accept.

The timing matters too. Trump campaigned on ending the Ukraine war quickly, and these early diplomatic moves show his administration is moving fast on that promise. But the real test will be whether Russia and Ukraine can bridge their fundamental differences over territory and security guarantees.

Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, said there are no current plans for a Putin-Trump phone call or another meeting with Witkoff. This suggests the ball is now in America's court to respond to Russia's position on the peace framework.

For Ukraine, these talks carry enormous stakes. Any peace deal will likely involve territorial concessions and security arrangements that could shape the country's future for decades. The intensive back-and-forth between Miami and Moscow shows how complex these negotiations have become, with multiple channels of communication running simultaneously.