Putin Says Parts Of U.S. Peace Plan 'Unacceptable,' Signaling Deal Is Distant After Five-Hour Moscow Talks

Putin Rejects Portions Of U.S. Peace Proposal After Lengthy Moscow Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that several points in a U.S. proposal to end the war in Ukraine are unacceptable to Moscow, suggesting a negotiated settlement remains some way off. Putin described a five-hour meeting earlier this week in the Kremlin with U.S. envoys as "necessary," "useful" and "difficult," saying the parties had to review the plan point by point.

“This was a necessary conversation, a very concrete one,” Putin said, adding that some provisions Moscow is willing to discuss while others "we can’t agree to."

The talks in Moscow involved Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who left the meeting convinced Putin wants to reach a deal, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. Witkoff and Kushner were due to meet later in Miami with Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, as the U.S. pushes direct diplomacy with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Diplomatic Push Meets Skepticism

European leaders — largely sidelined in the U.S.-led shuttle diplomacy — have voiced doubts about Moscow’s sincerity. French President Emmanuel Macron sought China’s help during talks in Beijing; Chinese leader Xi Jinping said only that “China supports all efforts that work towards peace,” without directly committing to pressuring Russia.

Fighting Continues Across Ukraine

Despite diplomatic efforts, Russian forces continued strikes on Ukrainian population centers and critical infrastructure. Officials reported that Russia fired two ballistic missiles and launched 138 drones overnight.

• A missile strike in Kryvyi Rih wounded six people, including a 3-year-old girl, and damaged more than 40 residential buildings, a school and gas lines, city officials said.
• In Kherson, a 6-year-old girl died after being wounded in earlier shelling. The Kherson Thermal Power Plant — which supplies heat for more than 40,000 residents — was forced to shut down after sustained drone and artillery attacks, prompting emergency measures and the erection of warming tents.
• Odesa was hit by drone strikes that wounded six people and damaged civilian and energy infrastructure, regional officials said.
• In the Russia-occupied part of Kherson region, Moscow-installed regional leader Vladimir Saldo said two men were killed and a 68-year-old woman wounded when a Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle.

Putin gave the remarks in an interview with India Today TV before traveling to New Delhi for a state visit. Russian state agencies Tass and RIA Novosti published excerpts. Neither Putin nor other officials provided detailed public clarifications on which parts of the U.S. proposal Moscow rejects, with officials saying premature disclosure could disrupt ongoing talks.

Reporter note: This account consolidates official statements from Russian and U.S. officials and regional Ukrainian authorities reporting on the latest strikes and diplomatic engagements.