• Trump claims Putin is keen to make a deal to end the Ukraine conflict.
• Five-hour talks in Moscow led to no concrete agreements.
• Disagreements persist over Ukraine's territorial integrity and future security.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky insists on not ceding territory.
• European leaders express concern over the US proposal favoring Moscow.

US President Donald Trump announced that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, is interested in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump cited a meeting involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner with Putin, stating, "He would like to end the war. That was their impression," after what they termed “reasonably good” discussions. However, Trump noted that “it does take two to tango,” emphasizing the uncertainty of next steps once the meeting concluded with no clear breakthroughs, according to AA, AA, and South China Morning Post.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin had accepted some US proposals during a five-hour meeting but emphasized that much work remains. Aide Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as “very useful and constructive” while acknowledging tremendous challenges, particularly on issues regarding territory and security guarantees for Ukraine. Putin’s willingness to consider some points of the US proposal was overshadowed by his insistence on withdrawing Ukrainian troops from eastern regions, casting uncertainty on potential progress, according to LA Times and BBC.

Despite the positive outlook shared by Trump and the US delegation regarding their meeting with Putin, they faced criticism from Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted the position that any potential deal must include firm security guarantees and reject any territorial concessions. Zelensky believes that US and European pressure is essential to ensure Russia does not stall negotiations. The complexities of the discussions were further illustrated by differing views from each negotiating party about the feasibility of a peace plan, with Ukrainian officials highlighting Russia's ongoing military offensives and stating that compromises on territory would not be acceptable, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC.

As the discussions move forward, European nations are voicing concerns regarding the potential US approach. Reports indicated apprehension among European leaders about the US peace plan appearing to favor Russia's interests over Ukraine's sovereignty, with notable comments from French President Emmanuel Macron and German officials questioning the future of territorial integrity for Ukraine. The ongoing debate underscores the complexities surrounding the US-led peace efforts amidst continued military activities in Ukraine, as stated by LA Times and BBC.