Witkoff, Kushner return with ‘no deal’, Putin roars against Europe; Zelenskyy sighs | Inside story

Key Concepts

• Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Negotiations: Efforts by the Trump administration to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
• Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner: Special envoys appointed by former US President Trump to lead the peace negotiations.
• Vladimir Putin: President of Russia, whose demands and stance are central to the negotiation process.
• Yuri Ushakov: Kremlin aide who briefed the press after the meeting with US envoys.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: President of Ukraine, who expressed skepticism about Putin's intentions.
• European Involvement: The role and perceived obstructionism of European powers in the peace talks.
• Strategic Defeat: The concept of inflicting a decisive loss on Russia, which Putin claims European powers are pursuing.
• Unacceptable Demands: Conditions put forth by Russia that are considered non-negotiable or unfavorable.
• Surgical and Precise Military Action: Putin's description of Russia's operations in Ukraine, contrasting it with a "direct modern sense of the word" war.

Summary of Negotiations and Stances

Trump Administration's Peace Initiative

The transcript details the ongoing efforts by former US President Trump's administration to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. A significant development was the meeting between Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 2nd. This meeting, which lasted for five hours, was closely watched globally but ultimately yielded no tangible results, with Witkoff and Kushner returning "empty-handed."

Russian Stance and Demands

According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, President Putin was transparent and critical of proposals unfavorable to Russia during the talks. While Russia agreed with certain aspects of the American documents presented, they also criticized others, expressing a "critical even negative attitude to a number of proposals." Ushakov emphasized that Russia remains "not compromising on any of its demands." Putin himself stated, "Russia does not intend to fight Europe, but if Europe starts, we are ready right now." He further elaborated that if Europe were to initiate a war, it would likely conclude very quickly, with "no one left for us to negotiate with." Putin characterized Russia's actions in Ukraine as "surgical, extremely careful and highly precise," distinguishing it from a "war in the direct modern sense of the word."

European Obstructionism Allegations

Putin accused Ukraine's European partners of actively blocking peace talks and preventing the US administration from achieving peace. He stated that European demands were "not acceptable to Russia" and that they were "on the side of war." Putin claimed that European powers had "excluded themselves" from negotiations by abruptly cutting off contact with Russia, driven by the idea of inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia. He suggested that European changes to Trump's proposals were aimed at "blocking the entire peace process altogether" and subsequently blaming Russia for its collapse.

Ukrainian Perspective

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Putin's intentions, stating, "He is now thinking how to find new reasons not to finish this war." Zelenskyy believes Putin did not achieve his initial goals of "destroying us totally our freedom, our people" and is now seeking new justifications to prolong the conflict. He stressed the importance of fairness, transparency, and Ukraine's involvement in decisions concerning its future, including territories, frozen assets, and security guarantees. Zelenskyy also indicated reliance on pressure from the United States and the international community to move towards peace.

Negotiation Process and Outcomes

The five-hour negotiation session between Russian leaders and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner produced no concrete progress. Ushakov described the conversation as "very useful, constructive, and very meaningful," and confirmed that contacts between Moscow and Washington would continue. He noted that the US envoys would report to President Trump upon their return to Washington. Despite the lack of immediate breakthroughs, Ushakov stated that the talks had not moved further away from peace, but acknowledged that "there's still a lot of work to be done both in Washington and in Moscow."

Criticism of Diplomatic Effort

Critics viewed the Moscow visit of Witkoff and Kushner as more akin to tourism than a serious diplomatic effort, citing their VIP treatment, including an escorted motorcade and fine dining, and the delayed start of talks. The envoys reportedly discovered Russia's lack of interest in their new peace proposal while they were dining.

Conclusion of the Meeting

Witkoff and Kushner left Moscow on the night of December 2nd, with Kremlin officials confirming that the meeting had produced no progress toward ending the war. They were expected to report the outcomes to President Trump. The transcript concludes with a sense of continued diplomatic engagement but a clear indication of the significant challenges and entrenched positions of the parties involved.