A high-level meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a U.S. delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, accompanied by Jared Kushner, concluded without any agreement on a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Although the talks were described as “useful” and “constructive,” no compromise was reached on the central issue of territory.

According to senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the discussions lasted roughly five hours and addressed aspects of a U.S.-backed proposal, but Russia rejected key elements.

While some proposals were viewed as acceptable, others drew a “critical and even negative attitude,” and “no compromise option has yet been found.”

Russian officials attributed their position — including firm demands for Ukrainian withdrawal from contested regions such as the Donbas — to recent battlefield gains, which they say strengthened their negotiating stance.

Ushakov suggested that these military advances helped shift what he called “the course and nature” of the talks in Moscow’s favor.

Despite the deadlock, the Kremlin affirmed its openness to continue negotiations in private.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the meeting as the first direct and substantive exchange of views since the U.S. plan was floated, with some items accepted and others rejected — a normal part of seeking compromise.

Nonetheless, the core issue of territorial control remains unresolved.

European and Ukrainian leaders expressed scepticism following the meeting, accusing Russia of feigning interest in diplomacy while continuing military operations.

For now, the prospect of a negotiated settlement remains distant, as Russia insists on holding onto occupied territory and shows no readiness to soften its demands under the current framework.