STORY: Russia and the United States did not clinch a compromise over peace in Ukraine, and peace is no closer to but also no further away, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday (December 3).

He noted that the sides failed to reach a compromise on one of the most difficult issues - territorial disputes.

The comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ushakov described the discussions as constructive but acknowledged that differences remain over Ukraine.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: KREMLIN FOREIGN POLICY AIDE YURI USHAKOV BRIEFING REPORTERS ON TALKS BETWEEN PRESIDENT PUTIN AND U.S. ENVOY WITKOFF ON A PEACE PLAN TO END WAR IN UKRAINE/ USHAKOV SAYING IT WAS A USEFUL DISCUSSION/ USHAKOV SAYING WE ARE NO CLOSER TO RESOLVING THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE/ USHAKOV SAYING THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE

SHOWS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 3, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. KREMLIN AIDE YURI USHAKOV ANSWERING REPORTERS QUESTIONS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN AIDE, YURI USHAKOV, SAYING:

“The conversation (between Putin and Witkoff and Kushner) was very useful, constructive, and very meaningful. It lasted not for five minutes but for five hours.”

3. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN AIDE, YURI USHAKOV, SAYING:

“Naturally we discussed with U.S. colleagues the content of those drafts (of Ukraine peace plans), those documents which the Americans submitted to Moscow some time ago. We went through these documents. We did not discuss any specific formulas, any specific American proposals. We discussed the essence of what was there in those American documents. We could agree with certain things, and the President (Vladimir Putin) confirmed this to his interlocutors. We criticised some things, and the President did not hide our critical, even negative attitude to a number of proposals.”

5.BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

6.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN AIDE, YURI USHAKOV, SAYING:

“Of course, it (the conversation) started with Trump’s representatives conveying the greetings and best wishes from their President to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. On his part, our President asked the (U.S.) colleagues to convey his friendly greetings to (Donald) Trump. Naturally he (Putin) not only conveyed friendly greetings but also requested to convey a whole range of important political signals which his (Trump's) interlocutors noted and, naturally, will report about them in Washington DC.”

7. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN AIDE, YURI USHAKOV, SAYING:

“We agreed with our U.S. colleagues that we would not disclose the substance of the negotiations that took place. This is quite logical, as the negotiations were absolutely confidential and closed to the public. As I know, (after the talks) our U.S. colleagues went to the U.S. embassy where they will report to Washington. Then they will go to Washington and report in person to President Trump on what they discussed with President Putin in the Kremlin.”

9. REPORTERS LISTENING TO USHAKOV

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KREMLIN AIDE, YURI USHAKOV, SAYING:

(REPORTER ASKING: Do you think the talks have brought us closer to peace, or further away?) Not further. Not further, that's for sure. But there's still a lot of work to be done, both in Washington and in Moscow. That's about it. And contacts (between Moscow and Washington) will continue.

11. REPORTERS LISTENING TO USHAKOV