Russian President Vladimir Putin with Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin on Tuesday (December 2), 2025.
Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace in Ukraine and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met and talked for about five hours.
This is Witkoff’s sixth meeting with Putin this year and focused on the US-proposed peace plan, which has been revised after recent talks with Ukraine.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “useful, constructive and meaningful” but stressed that no agreement had been reached on details, particularly territorial issues, and that more work was needed.
Putin asked Witkoff and Kushner to convey messages to Trump, and the two sides agreed to keep the details confidential.
Before the meeting, Putin made harsh statements accusing Europe of obstructing Trump’s peace efforts and saying that European proposals were “unacceptable” to Russia.
He also warned that Russia is not looking for war with Europe, but is fully prepared if Europe starts one.
The comments came as Russia highlights its recent military victories in Ukraine.
After the meeting, Witkoff and Kushner went to the US Embassy in Moscow to report the results to Trump and are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Europe on Wednesday.
Zelensky said he was waiting for “real signals” from the talks, stressing that any dialogue should be “pragmatic,” not just words.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a Trump cabinet meeting that Whitaker is trying to end the war and that Trump is “the only leader who can solve this crisis.”
The Kremlin also called the talks “open” and “positive,” but insisted the goals of “Russian special operations” had not changed.
This new round of diplomacy is part of Washington’s intensified efforts to resolve the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, but experts warn that without progress on key issues such as territory, the prospects for peace remain dim.
