Vladimir Putin and senior Donald Trump officials failed to reach a compromise on a possible peace deal in Ukraine during a five-hour meeting at the Kremlin on Tuesday night.
“There is still alot of work to be done,” Mr Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, told a briefing after the talks, which involved the Russian leader and Mr Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Mr Ushakov said the two sides were no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, noting that they failed to reach an agreement on territorial disputes.
The negotiations took place after Volodymyr Zelensky’s revealed that the US and Ukraine had agreed a new 20-point peace plan.
What the plan involved is not clear, but the Ukrainian president said that the 28-point roadmap proposed by the US last month - widely viewed in Europe as a capitulation for Ukraine - had been reworked into a new agreement.
After Tuesday night’s talks, Mr Ushakov said: "Some American draft proposals look more or less acceptable, but they need to be discussed.” He added: “Some of the formulations that have been proposed to us are not suitable for us, that is - the work will continue."
Key Points
- Kremlin aide: We are no closer to resolving Ukraine crisis after talks
- Putin meets Witkoff and Kushner, pictures show
- How did we get here? Timeline of the latest peace talks
- Macron insists peace talks can 'only be finalised with Europeans around the table'
- Zelensky says US peace plan 'looks better' with revisions
Kremlin says talks failed to find compromise on territory and 'no closer to peace' in Ukraine
03:49 , Arpan RaiRussia and the US have failed to agree terms on a peace deal in Ukraine after five hours of talks in Moscow, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He said peace in Ukraine was "no closer" but also no further away.He noted that the two sides failed to reach a compromise on one of the most difficult issues – territorial disputes.
Ushakov described the discussions as constructive but acknowledged that differences remain over Ukraine.
The comments came after Russian president Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with US president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Zelensky says he fears US could lose interest in peace process
03:15 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he was afraid the United States could lose interest in the Ukrainian peace process and that Russia's goal was to bring this about.
“Yes, I am afraid. If somebody from our allies is tired, I'm afraid," Zelensky told an event in Dublin when asked if he was concerned the US could lose interest in the peace process.
“It's the goal of Russia to withdraw the interest of America from this situation,” he said.
Putin says Russia not seeking war with Europe but ‘ready’ to fight
03:13 , Arpan RaiPresident Vladimir Putin has warned European powers that if they started a war with Russia then Moscow was ready to fight and that the defeat of European powers would be so absolute that there would be no one left to even negotiate a peace deal.
Asked by a reporter about remarks in the Russian media that Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto had cautioned that Europe was preparing a war against Russia, Putin said that Russia did not want a war with Europe.
"If Europe suddenly wants to start a war with us and starts it," Putin said, then it would end so swiftly for Europe that Russia would have no one left to negotiate with. Putin used the Russian word for "war".
He also suggested that the war in Ukraine was not a full-blown war and that Russia was acting in a "surgical" manner which would not be repeated in a direct confrontation with European powers.
Russia threatening free Black Sea navigation, warns Kyiv
02:01 , Alex CroftUkraine's foreign minister said on Tuesday that recent comments by Russian president Vladimir Putin show Russia is threatening freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and is not ready to end its war on Ukraine.
"For the second day in a row, Putin makes statements that demonstrate that he does not plan to end the war," Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
"Yesterday he said he was prepared to fight through the winter. Today, he threatens sea ports and freedom of navigation."
Nato chief brushes off concerns over US commitment to alliance
01:01 , Alex CroftNato secretary-general Mark Rutte brushed off fresh concern Tuesday about the United States' commitment to the military organization on the eve of a meeting of allied foreign ministers focused on Russia's war against Ukraine.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio was expected to miss Wednesday's meeting, which will unfold during high-stakes negotiations in Moscow and in Europe about Ukraine's future.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Mr Rutte underlined that Rubio has a busy schedule.
"He's working extremely hard to take care not only of the situation of Ukraine, but of course many other issues which are on his plate," Rutte said. "So I totally accept him not being able to be here tomorrow, and I would not read anything in it."
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal administration reasoning for the absence, said Rubio has already attended dozens of meetings with Nato allies, "and it would be completely impractical to expect him at every meeting.
"Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will attend instead and press the allies to deliver on their commitment to invest 5% of gross domestic product on defense.
Full story: Russian-flagged tanker ‘attacked off Turkish coast’
00:15 , Alex CroftA Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil has reportedly been attacked off the Turkish coast, though its 13 crew members are unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority confirmed on Tuesday.
The vessel, MIDVOLGA-2, reported the incident 80 miles (130 km) from the Turkish coastline.
It did not request assistance, proceeding instead towards Turkey's Sinop port, the Maritime Affairs Directorate stated on X. Broadcaster NTV suggested the attack involved a kamikaze drone.
Zelensky says he feels 'optimism' over peace efforts
Tuesday 2 December 2025 23:46 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky is in Dublin, where throughout the day he has been commenting on peace efforts with the US and Russia.
Before talks concluded in the Kremlin, the Ukrainian president said he had some optimism around peace efforts due to the speed of the process and the United States' interest in finding a solution.
"A little bit optimism was in my words because of some speed of negotiations, and from the American side, their interest in it.
“It showed that America is not withdrawing now from any kind of diplomatic way of dialogue and it is good," Mr Zelensky told an event during a visit to Dublin.
Russian forces encircled Myrnohrad and control 95% Pokrovsk, says Nato official - ICYMI
Tuesday 2 December 2025 23:16 , Alex CroftNato has said that Ukrainian forces have ben “virtually encircled” in Myrnohrad and are relying on drones for supplies.
Russian troops now control more than 95 per cent of the city of Pokrovsk, a senior Nato official told European Pravda.
"Myrnohrad is now virtually fully encircled,” the official said.
"There is a narrow corridor through which the Ukrainians can withdraw certain forces, but it is a very narrow corridor, itself under hostile fire control. Overall, this is an encirclement, though not yet a complete encirclement.
Discussing Pokrovsk, the official said: "Ukrainian forces are still conducting defensive actions inside the city, but as supply routes have been almost completely cut, Ukrainian troops are dependent on resupply by drones, which is becoming increasingly difficult."
"Russians control over 95% of the city… There are only isolated pockets where Ukrainian forces continue to resist."
Italy to delay decree on military aid to Ukraine - Reuters
Tuesday 2 December 2025 22:45 , Alex CroftItaly's government is set to delay the approval of a decree that would allow Rome to prolong military supplies to Ukraine into next year, Reuters is reporting citing sources.
The hold-up comes amid tensions within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition government over support for Ukraine against Russia's full-scale invasion, now approaching its fourth anniversary.
Ms Meloni has pledged to help Ukraine resist Russian aggression to the end, but her deputy Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, has questioned the rationale for continued support.
The decree for Ukraine aid was on the agenda of a meeting on Wednesday set to prepare the next day's cabinet, but was taken off because the agenda was already too full, the sources said, asking not to be named.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Italy's government has sent 12 packages of military aid to Ukraine, including the SAMP/T air defence system, as authorised by the decree system.
Kremlin aide: We are no closer to resolving Ukraine crisis
Tuesday 2 December 2025 22:14 , Alex CroftKremlin aide Yuri Ushakov is the next to respond to the nearly-five-hour talks in the Kremlin, which have just concluded.
He said that the two sides are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, adding that there is much work to be done.
Ushakov described the talks as constructive but noted that the sides failed to reach a compromise on one of the most difficult issues - territorial disputes.
Several options for a settlement were discussed, he added.
'Productive': Russia envoy responds to Witkoff-Putin talks
Tuesday 2 December 2025 22:00 , Alex CroftRussian envoy Kirill Dmitriev has been the first official to respond following the conclusion of a high-level round table involving Vladimir Putin and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
In a short message on X, paired with two photos from earlier in the day, Mr Dmitriev said: “Productive”.
We’ll bring you any further lines from those involved in the talks.
Productive 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/YlkqF0b7tr
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) December 2, 2025
Putin's Kremlin meeting with Trump envoys concludes
Tuesday 2 December 2025 21:52 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin's meeting with US president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin has concluded, the Kremlin press service said.
The talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two stretched for nearly five hours.
State news agency RIA said that Witkoff went to the US embassy in Moscow after the talks.
Comment | Witkoff and Trump cannot be trusted – it’s time for Europe to muscle into Putin talks
Tuesday 2 December 2025 21:37 , Alex CroftWhether by accident or design, Vladimir Putin has a useful idiot running America. International diplomacy has been turned on its head, enemies made friends, allies threatened, international laws defoliated.
Russian strategic policy, known as the Gerasimov doctrine, argues that chaos in the ranks of the enemy is victory and a path to greatness. By that standard Putin, should be stringing up bunting in the Kremlin.
He has achieved unimagined strategic effect by manipulating the Trump administration, which has contorted itself in its efforts to force a Russian victory on Ukraine and against Europe.
Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Witkoff and Trump cannot be trusted – it’s time for Europe to muscle into Putin talks
What was said before cameras were kicked out?
Tuesday 2 December 2025 21:21 , Alex CroftBefore the media cameras were removed from the Kremlin’s meeting room, were were given a few glimpses of what was said between the two sides.
A smiling Putin told Witkoff he was glad to see him and asked him about his and Kushner's walk around Moscow, which included a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.
"It is a magnificent city," Witkoff told Putin, along with foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov and Putin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Both sides had interpreters.
The Kremlin talks were ongoing late into the Moscow night after more than three hours.
Meanwhile in Washington, Trump spoke briefly on the talks at a drawn-out cabinet meeting.
"Our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled,” he said. “Not an easy situation, let me tell you. What a mess.”
Watch: Zelensky reveals new 20-point Kyiv-US peace deal
Tuesday 2 December 2025 21:05 , Alex CroftPutin's infamous meeting table
Tuesday 2 December 2025 20:49 , Alex CroftVladimir Putin, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Kirill Dmitriev and Yuri Ushakov sit round a table.
This isn’t the start of a bad joke: it’s what is going on right now in the Kremlin, where top US officials are seeking agreement from Moscow for a peace deal in Ukraine.
They are sitting around a table which was the subject of one of the most famous photos of 2022, when French president Emmanuel Macron tried to convince Putin to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The almost comical distance between the two presidents was a reflection of the political distance between Russia and Europe. Some speculate Putin uses the table to project an image of power.
The white-topped, oval beech table was reportedly installed in the Kremlin in the late 1990s while Boris Yeltsin was president. It is reportedly 6 metres long, made from a single sheet of beech wood and supported on three wooden stands.
Following several fruitless meetings around the meeting table between Putin and high-level western officials since 2022, it remains to be seen whether today’s talks will be a different story.
Timeline of the latest round of peace negotiations
Tuesday 2 December 2025 20:33 , Alex Croft19 November: Trump’s 28-point plan
A report in US outlet Axios claimed that Steve Witkoff had developed a 28-point draft plan with Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
All three are currently sat around Vladimir Putin’s meeting table in the Kremlin.
But Europe and Kyiv were dismayed, stating that the plan was heavily weighted in favour of Russian demands.
The same day, US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll arrived in Ukraine to discuss the peace process with Ukrainian officials.
23 November: The European counter-proposal
Europe issues a counter-proposal following a similar structure to the 28-point plan.
It contains, however, major changes, and does not commit to Ukraine ceding the Donbas to Russia, as the original plan did.
24-25 November: Abu Dhabi
Meetings are held in Abu Dhabi, between Driscoll and a Russian delegation to discuss the revised plan.
30 November: Ukraine-US talks
Kyiv officials head to Florida where they meet with secretary of state Marco Rubio, and envoys Kushner and Witkoff to discuss revisions to the peace plan.
Rubio says the sides are making “progress”.
2 December: Zelensky’s 20-point plan
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky reveals that the US and Ukraine have agreed on a new 20-point peace deal.
The Ukrainian president said that the original 28-point roadmap proposed by the US last month had been reworked into a new agreement following discussions between officials. The exact details remain unclear.
Witkoff and Kushner head to Moscow, where they lock into talks over the new peace deal with Putin.
Who is around the table in the Kremlin?
Tuesday 2 December 2025 20:17 , Alex CroftTop US officials are meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin tonight.
The high-level talks are looking to achieve an agreement from Moscow to a peace deal negotiated which Washington has been working to force through between Russia and Ukraine.
Who is joining the Russian president around the table?
Steve Witkoff - the billionaire real estate investor with strong ties to Russia
Since Trump’s re-election, the billionaire has served as the United States special envoy to the Middle East and special envoy for peace missions.
He played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas earlier this year, alongside Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Kirill Dmitriev - blacklisted Kremlin official behind Trump’s peace plan
Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), assumed the office of the special presidential envoy on Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation on 23 February this year despite having little diplomatic experience.
The businessman and his organisation have been under US sanctions, effectively barring American citizens and companies from dealing with them, since 2022.
Dmitriev has met several times with some of Trump’s closest officials, including his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Jared Kushner - Donald Trump’s son-in-law
Kushner is a loyal ally of Donald Trump, and the husband of his daughter, Ivanka, whom he married in 2009.
The 44-year-old has been closely involved with negotiations led by Washington, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
In pictures: Russian forces wave flag in Pokrovsk
Tuesday 2 December 2025 20:01 , Alex Croft
Lithuania accuses Belarus of 'cynical hybrid attack' as balloons disrupt airport
Tuesday 2 December 2025 19:43 , Alex CroftTensions between Lithuania and Belarus have escalated after meteorological balloons from Belarus forced Lithuania to repeatedly shut down its main airport in the past weeks, leaving thousands of people stranded.
While the balloons are used to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania, officials in Vilnius see their numbers and trajectories as deliberate acts of disruption orchestrated by Belarus, a close Russian ally, as Europe remains on high alert after drone intrusions into NATO’s airspace reached an unprecedented scale in September and the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth year.
Read more here:
Lithuania accuses Belarus of 'cynical hybrid attack' as balloons disrupt airport
Nato chief brushes off concerns over US commitment to alliance
Tuesday 2 December 2025 19:16 , Alex CroftNato secretary-general Mark Rutte brushed off fresh concern Tuesday about the United States' commitment to the military organization on the eve of a meeting of allied foreign ministers focused on Russia's war against Ukraine.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio was expected to miss Wednesday's meeting, which will unfold during high-stakes negotiations in Moscow and in Europe about Ukraine's future.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Mr Rutte underlined that Rubio has a busy schedule.
"He's working extremely hard to take care not only of the situation of Ukraine, but of course many other issues which are on his plate," Rutte said. "So I totally accept him not being able to be here tomorrow, and I would not read anything in it."
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal administration reasoning for the absence, said Rubio has already attended dozens of meetings with Nato allies, "and it would be completely impractical to expect him at every meeting.
"Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will attend instead and press the allies to deliver on their commitment to invest 5% of gross domestic product on defense.
Russian forces have encircled Myrnohrad, control 95% Pokrovsk - Nato official
Tuesday 2 December 2025 18:50 , Alex CroftNato has said that Ukrainian forces have ben “virtually encircled” in Myrnohrad and are relying on drones for supplies.
Russian troops now control more than 95 per cent of the city of Pokrovsk, a senior Nato official told European Pravda.
"Myrnohrad is now virtually fully encircled,” the official said.
"There is a narrow corridor through which the Ukrainians can withdraw certain forces, but it is a very narrow corridor, itself under hostile fire control. Overall, this is an encirclement, though not yet a complete encirclement.
Discussing Pokrovsk, the official said: "Ukrainian forces are still conducting defensive actions inside the city, but as supply routes have been almost completely cut, Ukrainian troops are dependent on resupply by drones, which is becoming increasingly difficult."
"Russians control over 95% of the city… There are only isolated pockets where Ukrainian forces continue to resist."
Zelensky says he fears US could lose interest in peace process
Tuesday 2 December 2025 18:29 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he was afraid the United States could lose interest in the Ukrainian peace process and that Russia's goal was to bring this about.
"Yes, I am afraid. If somebody from our allies is tired, I'm afraid," Zelenskiy told an event in Dublin when asked if he was concerned the U.S. could lose interest in the peace process.
"It's the goal of Russia to withdraw the interest of America from this situation."
Who are the power players behind Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Trump’s envoy meets Putin?
Tuesday 2 December 2025 18:09 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has claimed that “big progress” is being made in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine as his special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived for talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The US and Ukraine are seeking to narrow gaps in a peace plan proposed by Washington that was criticised as pro-Russian. European leaders responded with a counter-proposal that reasserted Ukraine’s demands.
It includes respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, freedom to advance its Nato ambitions and EU membership aspirations and maintain a large military to deter the threat of future Russian aggression.
Several countries and high-profile individuals are involved in the discussions, which have resulted in public disagreements. The Independent looks at some of the key characters below.
All the key players behind Ukraine-Russia peace talks as Trump’s envoy meets Putin
Zelensky says he feels 'optimism' over peace efforts
Tuesday 2 December 2025 17:45 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he had some optimism around peace efforts due to the speed of the process and the United States' interest in finding a solution.
"A little bit optimism was in my words because of some speed of negotiations, and from the American side, their interest in it.
“It showed that America is not withdrawing now from any kind of diplomatic way of dialogue and it is good," Mr Zelensky told an event during a visit to Dublin.
In pictures: Putin meets US officials
Tuesday 2 December 2025 17:23 , Alex Croft
Watch: Zelensky reveals new 20-point Kyiv-US peace deal
Tuesday 2 December 2025 17:15 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a new and revised 20-point peace deal following discussions between Ukraine and the US.
Russia threatening free Black Sea navigation, warns Kyiv
Tuesday 2 December 2025 17:14 , Alex CroftUkraine's foreign minister said on Tuesday that recent comments by Russian president Vladimir Putin show Russia is threatening freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and is not ready to end its war on Ukraine.
"For the second day in a row, Putin makes statements that demonstrate that he does not plan to end the war," Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
"Yesterday he said he was prepared to fight through the winter. Today, he threatens sea ports and freedom of navigation."
Putin meets Witkoff and Kushner, pictures show
Tuesday 2 December 2025 16:55 , Alex CroftRussian president Vladimir Putin has met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday, photographs released by the Russian media showed.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov and envoy Kirill Dmitriev were also at the meeting, the photographs showed. Interpreters were also present.
Mapped: Inside fierce battle for Pokrovsk as Ukraine denies Russia has captured key city
Tuesday 2 December 2025 16:46 , Maira ButtVladimir Putin on Tuesday claimed full control over the key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk - though the claim was instantly denied by Kyiv.
For months, Russian and Ukrainian forces have fought house-to-house for the so-called fortress city in eastern Ukraine, once a vital logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, now a ruin separating the Russians from what remains of free Donetsk.
Victory would hand leverage to Putin at a critical time in the war, as a delegation of senior officials from Washington arrives in Moscow to talk through the narrowing paths to peace.
Mapped: Inside fierce battle for Pokrovsk as Kyiv denies Russia has captured city
Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
Tuesday 2 December 2025 16:12 , Maira ButtNato is considering “pre-emptive” action against Russia following a string of hybrid attacks on Europe, a senior official in the alliance has warned.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian who serves as chair of the Nato Military Committee, said the alliance may need to adopt a more “aggressive” approach to deter Moscow from continuing its campaign of drone incursions and cyber attacks in Europe.
A recent Financial Times investigation revealed how Nato has been put on high alert after three vessels in the Baltic Sea were accused of dragging their anchors in a bid to damage energy and communication cables, with a total of 11 incidents recorded.
Other incidents include frequent cyber attacks on European countries and incursions of Russian drones into Nato airspace.
Read our full story below.
Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks
Breaking: Putin says Russia is ready for war if Europe wants it
Tuesday 2 December 2025 15:29 , Maira ButtPresident Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to fight a war with Europe if it is provoked in his latest threat against the West.
The Russian leader said that he did not want a war with European powers but if they did, Russia was ready right now to fight.
He accused Europe of making demands on a possible peace settlement for Ukraine, which Russia finds absolutely unacceptable.
The comments come at the plenary session of the VTB Russia Calling Investment forum in Moscow on Tuesday.
Nato's secretary general expects new contributions to Ukraine arms aid program
Tuesday 2 December 2025 14:57 , Maira ButtMark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, said that he expected allies to make new contributions to the Prioritised Requirements List (PURL) program.
He added that he was confident that US-brokered talks to end the war would “restore peace in Europe”.
Zelensky reveals new US-Ukraine peace plan
Tuesday 2 December 2025 14:40 , Daniel KeaneVolodymyr Zelensky has revealed that the US and Ukraine have agreed on a new 20-point peace deal, as talks between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin began in the Kremlin.
The Ukrainian president said that the original 28-point roadmap proposed by the US last month had been reworked into a new agreement following discussions between officials.
"Some things still need to be worked out," he told reporters on a visit to Dublin, adding that this marked "one of the most challenging and yet optimistic moments at the same time" for peace in Ukraine.
Witkoff and Trump cannot be trusted – it’s time for Europe to muscle into Putin talks
Tuesday 2 December 2025 14:25 , Maira ButtWhether by accident or design, Vladimir Putin has a useful idiot running America. International diplomacy has been turned on its head, enemies made friends, allies threatened, international laws defoliated.
Russian strategic policy, known as the Gerasimov Doctrine, argues that chaos in the ranks of the enemy is victory and a path to greatness. By that standard Putin should be stringing up the bunting in the Kremlin.
He has achieved unimagined strategic effect by manipulating the Trump administration which has contorted itself in its efforts to force a Russian victory on Ukraine and against Europe.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Witkoff and Trump cannot be trusted – it’s time for Europe to muscle into Putin talks
Witkoff arrives in Kremlin for talks
Tuesday 2 December 2025 14:16 , Daniel KeaneDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law have arrived at the Kremlin for talks with Vladimir Putin.
Negotiations began at 2pm GMT, according to the Kremlin. It was unclear how long they will last.
It is the sixth time that Mr Witkoff has visited Moscow since Trump’s re-election.
European plan has been refined after US talks, says Zelensky
Tuesday 2 December 2025 13:57 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky provided an update on peace negotiations as he said a European counter-proposal to US president Donald Trump’s peace plan had been refined.
“The work was based on the Geneva document, and that document has been refined,” Zelensky wrote on X on Tuesday. He called for more European involvement.
“Our diplomats are actively working with all partners to ensure that European countries and other participants in the Coalition of the Willing are meaningfully involved in developing decisions.”
No consensus on Nato membership for Ukraine, says Nato chief
Tuesday 2 December 2025 13:27 , Maira ButtNato chief Mark Rutte says that there is no consensus yet on membership for Ukraine.
“The practical situation is, as you know, that there is consensus required by all allies for Ukraine to join Nato. And right now, as you know, there is no consensus on Ukraine joining Nato,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Trump ‘to hand occupied Ukrainian land to Putin in return for peace deal’
Tuesday 2 December 2025 13:10 , Maira ButtDonald Trump could recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and other occupied territories in an appeasement of the Kremlin’s key demands for a peace deal, according to a report.
The US president is said to have sent special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow with the expressed intention of offering Vladimir Putin US recognition of the occupied territories in return for a peace deal.
A source told The Telegraph: “It’s increasingly clear the Americans don’t care about the European position. They say the Europeans can do whatever they want.”
Trump ‘to hand occupied Ukrainian land to Putin in return for peace deal’
Ukraine denies capture of Pokrovsk
Tuesday 2 December 2025 12:49 , Maira ButtUkraine’s general staff has denied that Russian forces have captured the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk.
“The brazen statements of the leadership of the aggressor country about the 'capture' of these settlements by the Russian army do not correspond to reality,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
The city is dubbed the “gateway to Donetsk” and is a key location for both sides in military campaigns.
In pictures: Zelensky and his wife arrive in Dublin, Ireland
Tuesday 2 December 2025 12:33 , Maira ButtUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday.
It marks the leaders first state visit to the country. He was joined by his wife Olena Zelenska.
Trump’s man in Moscow: is ‘Dim Philby’ Steve Witkoff about to seal a Ukraine peace deal?
Tuesday 2 December 2025 12:10 , Maira ButtIf anyone has had more negative press than Donald Trump in the latest flurry of US efforts to end the war in Ukraine, it is Steve Witkoff, the man he appointed as his special envoy at the very start of his second term. One Western critic even dubbed him “Dim Philby”. But the knives have been out for Witkoff in Washington pretty much from the start, and the charge sheet against him is long.
The scrutiny has intensified with news that Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin, a sign of how urgently the White House wants movement on Ukraine.
Trump’s man in Moscow: is Steve Witkoff about to seal a Ukraine peace deal?
