“Putin had a very good meeting yesterday with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. What comes out of that meeting, I can’t tell you because it does take two to tango,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Washington DC [US], December 4, 2025, BNN Web Staff: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the recent discussions between a US delegation and Russian President Vladimir Putin on a Ukraine peace proposal were “very good,” adding that the talks suggested Putin “would like to end the war.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held an extensive five-hour meeting with Putin in Moscow, focusing on possible solutions to end the conflict that began in February 2022.
“Putin had a very good meeting yesterday with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. What comes out of that meeting, I can’t tell you because it does take two to tango,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “He would like to end the war, that was their impression.”
However, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov struck a more cautious tone. He described the meeting as one of the most substantial interactions between the two countries since the conflict began but confirmed that “no compromise” had been reached on territorial matters.
Ushakov said both sides explored potential pathways to a settlement, but major disagreements remain.
“We are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to be done,” he said, noting that discussions continued late into the night.
He confirmed that while the American delegation put forward new proposals, key sticking points persisted regarding Ukrainian territory. Senior Russian officials, including investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, took part in the talks, which reviewed various options for ending the hostilities.
Ushakov emphasised the confidentiality of the dialogue, stating, “The discussion was confidential. We agreed not to disclose the substance of the negotiations.”
He added that although substantial progress had yet to be achieved, diplomatic engagement “continues.”
He also revealed that Putin asked Witkoff to convey “several important political messages” directly to President Trump, with further communication expected between the two sides.
Ahead of the meeting, Putin criticised the European Union’s role in the peace efforts, accusing EU members of putting forward proposals designed “to block the entire peace process altogether.”
