Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
The latest Moscow talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner suggest that Washington is trying to reopen a diplomatic channel, but they also highlight how difficult it will be to convert dialogue into a workable peace agreement.
The more than three-hour meeting was described by the Kremlin as “highly useful,” while the White House called it “substantive.” Yet neither side indicated that the discussions produced a breakthrough. The absence of concrete details is significant, as the fundamental differences over territory, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s future alignment remain unresolved.
Putin used the meeting to reinforce Moscow’s established position. He stressed the need to address what Russia calls the “root causes” of the conflict and maintained that Russia was making progress on the battlefield. Moscow has also reiterated its demand that Ukraine give up territory claimed by Russia and abandon its NATO ambitions.
Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions, arguing that surrendering land would amount to accepting the results of military aggression. With neither side showing signs of substantially altering its core position, the battlefield continues to shape the diplomatic environment.
The timing of the talks is particularly important. Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range strikes in recent weeks, while Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have sought to increase the economic cost of the war for Moscow. This escalation gives Washington greater urgency to pursue negotiations, but it also reduces the space for compromise.
Witkoff and Kushner’s planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will therefore be crucial. Washington will have to determine whether Moscow’s proposals can form the basis for negotiations acceptable to Kyiv and its European partners.
The European reaction also points to a wider challenge. Allies want greater consultation with Washington, while Moscow appears determined to negotiate from what it considers a position of growing military strength.
For now, the Moscow meeting is better viewed as a test of diplomatic momentum than a turning point. Its importance will depend on whether Washington can sustain engagement and narrow the gap between Russia’s demands and Ukraine’s conditions for peace.
