Kremlin renews criticism of Europe’s efforts to amend US plan to end Ukraine war

Original article by Rory Carroll

Russia has renewed its criticism of efforts by Europe and Ukraine to amend US proposals to end the war in Ukraine, saying they did not improve prospects for peace.

Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters on Sunday that the proposed tweaks to Washington’s plan could prolong the conflict.

“I am sure that the proposals that the Europeans and Ukrainians have made or are trying to make definitely do not improve the document and do not improve the possibility of achieving long-term peace,” Ushakov said, adding that he had not seen the exact proposals and that his criticism was “not a forecast”.

Ukrainian forces have been battling an attempted Russian breakthrough in the village of Grabovske in the north-eastern Sumy region, Ukraine’s joint taskforce said. It disputed reports that Russian troops had occupied the nearby village of Ryasne. Ukraine’s rights ombudsman said Russian forces forcibly moved about 50 people from Grabovske to Russia.

US intelligence believes Putin remains intent on capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet Union, Reuters reported, citing six sources familiar with US intelligence. Last week Putin called Europe’s leaders “little pigs” and said Russia would achieve its goals through diplomacy or force.

However, Donald Trump’s lead negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are holding talks with Russia’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Miami in the belief that a peace deal may be close.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said diplomatic efforts were advancing “quite quickly” and that his negotiators in Florida had been working with the American side. The Ukrainian delegation has had separate meetings in the US with American and European diplomats.

On Sunday evening, Witkoff wrote on X that the talks held between American, European and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the last three days had been “productive and constructive”.

“Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,” he said. “Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace. Our shared priority is to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity.”

Zelenskyy backed a US proposal for three-way talks with Washington and Moscow if it facilitated prisoner exchanges and other conditions. However, Ushakov said a proposal for three-way talks had not been seriously discussed.

France has welcomed reports that Putin was open to talks with Emmanuel Macron. “As soon as the prospect of a ceasefire and peace negotiations becomes clearer, it becomes useful again to speak with Putin,” the French president’s office said in a statement. “It is welcome that the Kremlin publicly agrees to this approach.”

Putin extended the apparent olive branch after EU leaders on Friday agreed to supply €90bn (£79bn) to Ukraine to shore up its economy and military campaign against Russian forces in the run-up to the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukrainian drones hit an oil rig and other facilities at Russia’s Filanovsky oilfield in the Caspian Sea, more than 700km (435 miles) from Ukraine’s nearest border, Ukraine’s military general staff said on Saturday.