Even before Tuesday’s high-stakes meeting between US negotiators and Russia’s leader concluded in Moscow, the consensus was that Vladimir Putin would not compromise enough to end the Ukraine war.
Ahead of his closed-door gathering with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Putin warned that Russia would defeat Europe if it wanted war. His hawkish remarks, The Guardian suggested, were aimed at “driving a wedge” between Washington, which drafted a Russia-friendly peace plan, and European governments that backed Ukraine’s push to revise it.
Despite the diplomatic frenzy, analysts are skeptical Putin will accept a watered-down deal. Ukraine’s president appeared optimistic about the speedy negotiations, but said he was afraid the Americans might tire of peace efforts.