There is ‘vast potential’ for cooperation between the two parties, Yury Ushakov has told the media following the marathon session RT composite. © PeterHermesFurian / Patrick van Katwijk / FeelPic / Anton Litvintsev / Getty Images; Gavriil Grigorov / Sputnik The Russian-US negotiations on the Ukraine conflict have concluded in the Kremlin after almost five hours of talks involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff. The discussions were focused on the key parts of an American-backed peace framework, which initially revolved around a 28-point draft that leaked to the media last month, leaving Vladimir Zelensky’s Western European backers blindsided and sidelined. According to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, the US delegation presented four more documents concerning the peace settlement during the Kremlin talks. The key questions of territory – which Zelensky has warned about in his media comments – security guarantees, NATO aspirations, and restrictions on Ukraine’s military, all of which have been well-flagged as deal-breakers by Moscow, were all discussed, with Ushakov answering a question on the topic by referring to the “vast potential” for cooperation between Russia and the US. Since the latest US peace initiative began, Zelensky’s inner circle has been exposed as corrupt while his forces have suffered significant territorial losses on the front line. The alleged initial peace document has also been the subject of several rounds of talks and much megaphone diplomacy. Prior to Tuesday’s talks in Moscow, Witkoff met a Ukrainian delegation – minus former Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak, who has been fired – in Florida for four hours, which officials described as productive, but media sources said were “not easy,” widely assumed to refer to the question of territory. Although Zelensky has officially ruled out any concessions to Moscow, the discussions in the Russian capital were expected to focus on the territorial questions that have been exacerbated by Kiev’s multiple frontline setbacks, amid maximalist demands from the EU and ongoing diplomacy from the US. THIS LIVE FEED HAS ENDED. Show latestShow oldest 02 December 2025 22:19 GMT The next summit between Putin and Trump will depend on the progress future talks achieve, Ushakov has said. “A possible meeting at the presidential level will depend on how much progress we can make along this line,” he told journalists. “We will continue [talks] at the level of representatives and assistants.” “Some American proposals are acceptable to Russia, while others are not,” the aide added. He noted that the territorial issue was also discussed at the meeting. Responding to the question of whether peace had become closer or further following these talks, Ushakov said, “Definitely not further.” Ushakov has told the press that his American counterparts said they would be traveling back to the US and not through western Europe. No compromises found as of yet, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said after the meeting which lasted almost five hours. A meeting betweenPutin and Trump is not currently planned, he added. “We discussed the substance, not specific wording and solutions. The parties see enormous potential for cooperation,” Ushakov said. Witkoff has arrived at the US Embassy in Moscow following the negotiations, according to RIA Novosti.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev has tweeted his thoughts on the five hours of talks.
Productive 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/YlkqF0b7tr
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) December 2, 2025
The negotiations between Putin, Witkoff and Kushner are now finished, according to RT reporters in the Kremlin.
“I think the longer they talk the better it is,” director of international affairs, former advisor to Bush, Clinton administration Steve Gill has told RT.
The longer the meeting is, the more we can hope that it is actually aimed at solving all the issues in the Ukrainian conflict, Gill has said. He added that the meeting clearly shows that Europe’s point of view doesn’t matter anymore.
Meanwhile, it’s been four hours since the beginning of the talks. The Russian journalists are waiting for its conclusion.
The Ukraine conflict is not “an easy situation” to settle, President Donald Trump has said.
“Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled. Not an easy situation, let me tell you. What a mess,” he said in a cabinet meeting.
“It’s a war that never would have happened if I were President.”
🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 The US is no longer financially involved in the war between Ukraine and Russia, — TrumpUS representatives in Russia are working to determine whether a Ukrainian settlement is possible, we hope for a resolution of the conflict.The states are no longer financially… pic.twitter.com/D292Dj8d05
— The Daily News (@DailyNewsJustIn) December 2, 2025
Russian media is watching the talks carefully. According to RIA Novosti, RBC and TASS reports, the most important thing you need to know is that talks have been going for over three hours, or as Politika says “the fourth hour of talks has begun.” Its now 23:30 in Moscow but we will be here to the end.
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02 December 2025
10:39 GMT
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the Putin-Witkoff meeting is set to start in about five hours (around 6pm Moscow time).
- 10:39 GMT
A Bombardier Global 7500 business jet apparently carrying Witkoff has entered Russian airspace, according to Flightradar24.
© flightradar24 / Screenshot
- 10:41 GMT
Apart from Putin, Witkoff is set to meet senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, TASS has reported, without providing an exact timeline. During the previous round of negotiations with Putin in August, Witkoff met with Dmitriev before his Kremlin visit. The two were seen on a stroll in Zaryadye Park in central Moscow.
- 10:49 GMT
The Trump peace plan is “a very good basis” for settling the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. He added, however, that the task is “very difficult,” and the sides have to resolve several crucial matters.
- 10:49 GMT
US mediation efforts have been “quite effective,” Peskov has said.
- 10:54 GMT
Footage obtained by RT showed two vehicles with Russian plates and special lights entering Vnukovo Airport in anticipation of Witkoff. Another separate clip released by TASS featured vehicles with diplomatic license plates belonging to the US embassy in Moscow, which also have reached the airport.
- 10:57 GMT
Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will be the only negotiators representing the US, Peskov has said. He declined to speculate on the duration of the talks, saying they would last as long as necessary.
- 11:00 GMT
The jet apparently carrying Witkoff has landed in Moscow, according to TASS.
- 11:11 GMT
Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has arrived at Vnukovo to welcome Witkoff and Kushner, RT reporters have confirmed.
- 11:16 GMT
A large motorcade apparently carrying Witkoff and Dmitriev has left Vnukovo airport, according to footage from Ruply.
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