In a fast series of important diplomatic meetings, American officials have held direct talks with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders within days. This shows a new, though difficult, effort to end the long war in Ukraine. The activity began with a long meeting in Moscow between a US team and President Vladimir Putin. Soon after, the US announced it would quickly consult with Ukrainian officials.
The first talks, held at the Kremlin, lasted about five hours. The US team included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. However, the meeting did not lead to immediate progress. A key Russian aide, Yuri Ushakov, stated that "no compromise version has yet been found." He explained that while some American ideas might be possible, others were directly criticized by President Putin. This highlighted the major differences that still remain.
This Moscow meeting was part of a wider plan. The US had already spoken with Ukrainian and European allies, suggesting a coordinated attempt to mediate. The American strategy involves holding separate discussions with each side. The next step happens in Miami, where Witkoff is set to meet with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s National Security Council head.
Ukrainian leaders have reacted with careful hope, but they insist on clear principles. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the world now feels "a real opportunity to end the war." However, he stressed that any talks must be "backed by pressure on Russia." His Foreign Minister repeated that Moscow must clearly "end the bloodshed" as a basic condition for peace.
These talks happen as the war reaches 1,379 days. The US is clearly trying harder to stop the fighting, but there is international worry. Some European and Ukrainian officials fear that proposed peace plans might give too much to Russia, harming Ukraine’s future sovereignty.
For now, these meetings show that positions are still very fixed. While direct US-Russia dialogue is a significant step, the publicly stated differences mean a breakthrough is not close. The world is watching to see if this diplomatic activity can become a real peace process, or if it only highlights how hard it is to end this devastating war.