Kremlin and US Envoy Fail to Agree on Occupied Ukraine Lands

WISE NEWS PRESS / MOSCOW, RUSSIA — DEC. 3, 2025

The Kremlin has announced that no significant progress was made regarding Russian-occupied territories following a high-stakes meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

While Moscow described the five-hour talks as "constructive," the lack of consensus on the status of occupied regions highlights the deep divide remaining between the two powers. Conversely, officials in Washington expressed a more optimistic view, suggesting that steps were taken toward defining security guarantees.

Diplomatic Standoff on Territories

Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov stated after the meeting that "no consensus has yet been reached" regarding the territories currently occupied by Russia. However, Ushakov noted that certain US proposals concerning these regions—which constitute approximately 19% of Ukrainian territory—could be "considered."

Describing the dialogue as "constructive and useful," Ushakov emphasized that both Washington and Moscow would need to dedicate significantly more effort to reach a resolution. He added that both sides demonstrated a will to continue diplomatic efforts.

Washington Sees 'Progress'

In contrast to the Kremlin's cautious tone, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more hopeful assessment. Speaking to Fox News, Rubio claimed that ground had been covered toward ending the war.

"We are trying to find a formula for what conditions the Ukrainians can accept and what can provide them with security guarantees in the future; I think we have made some progress in this direction," Rubio said.

Notably, the US delegation in Moscow included Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, alongside Witkoff. They were met on the Russian side by Ushakov and Kremlin advisor Kirill Dmitriev. Following the Moscow talks, the US envoys are expected to travel to Brussels to brief a Ukrainian delegation.

Zelensky: War Must End Completely

As diplomatic channels open, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his firm stance during a visit to Ireland. "Our common task is not just to pause the conflicts, but to end the war completely," Zelenskyy said, stressing that decisions about the country's future cannot be made without Ukrainian involvement.

Russia’s core demands currently include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, limiting its military capabilities, and recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Kiev continues to reject these terms, labeling them as "capitulation".

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