The planned meeting in Brussels between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the American delegation composed of Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who traveled to Moscow for talks with the Russian side, has been cancelled, Kyiv Post reports.
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The Kyiv Post's Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu wrote on X, citing sources, that “the meeting in Brussels is canceled” and Zelenskiy is returning to Ukraine.
He added that the Kremlin claims that Witkoff and Kushner “promised” to fly directly to Washington after talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow – a statement that was not confirmed by the US side.
The reason for the cancellation of this meeting was not disclosed.
Russia and the US have not reached “any compromise” after nearly five hours of talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov announced Tuesday evening, despite “constructive, very useful and substantial” discussions between the delegations.
He also announced that Witkoff and Kushner would return to Washington.
The Moscow meeting was attended by Witkoff, Kushner, Putin and senior Kremlin advisers. This followed the revision, following consultations with Kiev, of the original 28-point plan, rejected by Europe and Kiev as a Russian “wish list”.
Ushakov said the talks focused on the “essence” of the proposals rather than “specific wording” and that Moscow would “continue contacts” with Washington. A meeting at the presidential level, he added, “will depend on the progress we can make.”
A Russian official told NBC News that there are three non-negotiable pillars for Moscow: “Donbas territory,” limits on Ukraine's armed forces and Western recognition of Russia's territorial claims.
Rubio: “Only Putin Can End War”
Ushakov stressed that territory remains the “most important” issue: “Some American developments seem more or less acceptable… Some formulations do not suit us.”
Putin kept the US delegation waiting for more than an hour as he gave a speech in which he declared Russia was “prepared” for war with Europe if provoked.
Ushakov also said the sides discussed “huge prospects” for future economic cooperation between the US and Russia, if progress is made. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's economic envoy, described the talks succinctly by posting a photo alongside the text: “Productive.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about efforts to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, stressing that any progress ultimately depends on Putin.
Rubio, who remained in Washington while the US delegation traveled to Moscow, told Fox News that Ukraine is ready to negotiate while the war remains extremely expensive.
As for a peace deal, Rubio said progress has been made after 10 months of diplomatic efforts, and the end is still in sight. “We've come close, but we're not there yet… Only Putin can end this war on the Russian side.”
