The key facts

  • According to Bloomberg, citing a source close to the Kremlin, neither Russia nor Ukraine changed their positions during the talks
  • Putin again rejected the deployment of any peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine
  • Medinsky stated that the Kremlin intends to occupy more Ukrainian territories and expand the 'buffer zone'

Moscow Visit Yielded No Result

Steven Whitkoff and Jared Kushner's visit to Moscow and their two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin did not lead to any breakthrough in the settlement. According to Bloomberg, citing a source close to the Kremlin, during the talks neither Russia nor Ukraine changed its positions, and the visit itself did not go beyond a 'politely organized visit'.

The Parties' Positions Remained Unchanged

At the start of the meeting, Putin stated that only a 'state border' could serve as the dividing line between the parties, and once again rejected any deployment of a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine. 'We have said from the very beginning that any presence of foreign troops on the territory of Ukraine, in any format, is absolutely unacceptable to us, because we believe it threatens the security of the Russian Federation,' the publication quotes him as saying.

Kushner Acknowledged Remaining Disagreements

At a press conference following two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi, Jared Kushner acknowledged that 'serious disagreements remain' between Moscow and Kyiv and that there is no trust between the parties. He called the territorial issue 'the most difficult problem' and stressed that without resolving it, it is impossible to conclude an agreement on a 'new security architecture' in Europe.

Tense Talks in Abu Dhabi

The talks in Abu Dhabi were the first meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in nine months. According to a source who personally took part in the meeting and spoke with Axios, the discussion was sharp and at times emotional: both sides voiced grievances, while Whitkoff and Kushner, in his words, tried to 'ease the atmosphere,' explaining that the purpose of the meeting was to develop alternative options for the heads of the two states.

The US Proposal and Moscow's Statements

According to Axios, the American side proposed that Russia develop a plan for a 'new security architecture for Europe,' including not only Moscow's demands but also 'mutually balanced steps' — de-escalation and guarantees against attack. The day before, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, warned that the Kremlin intends to occupy even more Ukrainian territories: 'Every inch of our lands will return to Russia,' and the 'buffer zone' in the border regions will be expanded.