During a televised Kremlin meeting with American envoys, Vladimir Putin insisted that Russia seeks an enduring settlement rather than a short-term pause in hostilities. Jared Kushner observed that Moscow and Kyiv agree on multiple basic principles but remain deeply divided over how to execute a final peace deal. Kushner also emphasized the necessity of including European nations in talks regarding future security guarantees. The high-level discussions followed earlier trilateral meetings in Abu Dhabi that produced a prisoner-of-war exchange but left primary territorial disputes unresolved.
Key points
Moscow will immediately resume warfare if European troops deploy to Ukraine as part of a…: Moscow will immediately resume warfare if European troops deploy to Ukraine as part of a post-conflict arrangement.
Negotiators have found common ground on broad principles but remain stalled on territoria…: Negotiators have found common ground on broad principles but remain stalled on territorial claims and enforcement frameworks.
The United States is actively advocating for European partners to take part in future sec…: The United States is actively advocating for European partners to take part in future security negotiations with Russia.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Russian President
Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered "legitimate targets", saying their presence would threaten Russia's security.
Putin made the remarks during a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow.
According to Reuters, Putin said European countries wanted to deploy troops in Ukraine after a peace agreement and added that Moscow would consider them legitimate targets.
"We said from the very beginning that the presence of any foreign troops on Ukrainian territory is absolutely unacceptable for us, because we believe it threatens the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said during the televised meeting, according to the Kremlin remarks reported by Reuters.
The meeting was attended by US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, defence minister Andrei Belousov and presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Referring to the possibility of European forces entering Ukraine after a peace agreement, Putin said, "That after peace is concluded, they will immediately bring troops…
The cross-border strike targets critical energy infrastructure designed to bypass potential maritime chokepoints in the Persian Gulf. By striking deep within the kingdom's territory, the operation signals a severe escalation in regional hostilities and elevates security risks for Middle Eastern crude transit.
During discussions with American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the Kremlin reiterated its insistence on retaining full control over four claimed Ukrainian regions while dismissing proposed international peacekeepers. This uncompromising position complicates Western mediation efforts and undermines hopes for a swift diplomatic resolution before 2026.
Diplomatic efforts in The Hague follow mounting pressure from Washington, which sanctioned the tribunal after it issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The reported negotiations aim to restrict the court's jurisdiction over non-member state nationals and grant immunity to world leaders. Altering these founding rules would require extensive approval from member states, risking the legal integrity of the international justice system.