U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 12, 2024. The discussions lasted approximately five hours and focused on advancing peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting followed a series of discussions among U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the preceding weekend.
According to Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to President Putin, the talks were characterized as “constructive, very useful and substantive.” However, he acknowledged that no significant progress was made regarding the territorial disputes that have long fueled the conflict. “The territorial issue, naturally, is the most important for us, and for the Americans too. A compromise option has not yet been found,” Ushakov stated. He noted that some proposals from the U.S. appeared “more or less acceptable,” but further discussions are essential.
Ushakov revealed that Moscow received four additional documents alongside the initial 28-point plan submitted by the Trump administration last month. He refrained from detailing the contents of these documents, emphasizing that both nations agreed to keep the specifics of the discussions confidential. Currently, no direct negotiations between Putin and Trump are scheduled, although Ushakov indicated that Putin requested Kushner and Witkoff to convey “important political signals” to the U.S. President.
Kushner and Witkoff are expected to return to the United States to report back to Trump regarding the meeting. Following their discussions, they will reconnect with Russian officials via phone to continue the conversation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the earlier talks, described the discussions as “another very productive session.” He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “there are a lot of moving parts.” Following the weekend discussions, Trump expressed optimism regarding the potential for an agreement, stating, “I think that there’s a good chance we can make a deal.”
The original U.S.-backed peace proposal, which aimed to end the conflict initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has undergone revisions in light of criticisms that it favored Russia too heavily. One contentious provision proposed that Ukraine cede territory it currently controls in Donetsk to Russia. Trump remarked, “They’re making concessions. They’re big concessions. They stop fighting, and they don’t take any more land.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the media on March 12, confirming that the peace plan had been streamlined to 20 points following negotiations in both Geneva and Florida. He indicated that Ukraine would “wait for signals from the American delegation after its meetings in Russia.” Zelenskyy expressed readiness to meet with Trump, stressing that the outcome of these discussions would significantly influence future engagements.
Previously, Putin had framed the proposals as a “set of issues put forward for discussion,” rather than a finalized agreement. Recently, a U.S. official disclosed to CBS News that Ukraine had “agreed to a peace deal,” with both sides reportedly reaching a common understanding on the proposal, though finer details remain unresolved. Nonetheless, Moscow cautioned that it was “premature” to assert that a peace deal was imminent.
This ongoing diplomatic effort highlights the complexities surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, with many stakeholders involved in the negotiations. As the situation evolves, the international community continues to monitor the developments closely, hoping for a resolution that can bring lasting peace to the region.
