Putin Issues Grave Warning to Europe as Russia-U.S. Talks on Ukraine Peace Plan End Without Breakthrough

The peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a U.S. delegation led by President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff stretched on for five hours on Tuesday, but ended without a breakthrough.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the talks in Moscow were “useful and constructive” but a “compromise option was not found.”

While no specifics were disclosed, Ushakov said that “some of the American proposals look more or less acceptable, though they need to be discussed” but other points of the plan “do not suit us.”

The U.S. delegation—which also included Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner—has yet to comment on the outcome of the meeting.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of “wasting the world’s time,” arguing that Putin has repeatedly demonstrated “he does not plan to end the war.”

The Kremlin on Wednesday morning rejected assertions that Putin is hindering peace talks.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov argued “it wouldn't be correct” to say that Putin rejected U.S. proposals put forth by Witkoff and Kushner. “Yesterday was the first time that a direct exchange of opinions took place. Something was accepted, something was marked as unacceptable. This is a normal working process and a search for compromise,” said Peskov.

Read More: Putin and Trump Envoy Witkoff Meet for High-Stakes Peace Talks

Putin arrived late to the sit-down, having spent the afternoon at an investment forum on the other side of Moscow.

Speaking to reporters at the forum, Putin made inflammatory remarks regarding Europe and said European officials—not Russia—were the ones hindering progress in the peace talks.

Issuing a stark warning to Europe, Putin declared Russia is “ready” for a military confrontation if one were to break out. He reiterated that he has no desire for additional conflict, but cautioned that “if Europe suddenly wants to wage a war with us and starts it, we are ready right away.”

The Russian President added that any European move toward war could lead to “a situation in which there won’t be anyone to negotiate with.”

Putin then took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s European allies, who have expressed support for helping Kyiv achieve a dignified peace deal. Accusing Europe of obstructing the U.S.-led negotiations, Putin claimed they had put forward demands that are “absolutely unacceptable” to Russia.

The lack of progress in the Russia-U.S. talks, along with Putin's readiness for military confrontation, has only exacerbated tensions between Moscow and European lawmakers.

Ahead of a NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting on Wednesday morning, U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that while Ukraine attempts to move toward peace, Putin seeks to “escalate war.”

“President Putin should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace and the security of Europe and NATO,” said Cooper.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the organization's ardent support for Zelensky and vowed to ensure that “Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going and to fight back against the Russians” until a peace deal is agreed upon.

Rutte dismissed Putin's warning to Europe, saying he won't react to every comment Putin makes, but other European officials were less reserved.

U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused Putin of “sabre-rattling.”

“I think we should see this for what it is, which is the same old sabre-rattling we’ve heard from President Putin,” he told Sky News. “And the the irony of President Putin talking about warmongering on the part of European leaders would be laughable if what he’s doing in Ukraine weren’t so serious.”

The Russia-U.S. meeting in Moscow followed the widespread leak of the Trump Administration’s 28-point peace plan on Nov. 20. Zelensky and his European allies criticized the initial draft, which called for Kyiv to reduce its army and make significant land concessions.

Ukrainian and U.S. officials met last week in Geneva to review a refined version of the proposal—the details of which have yet to be released. These talks were bolstered by a meeting in Florida over the weekend, which saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lead talks opposite Ukraine’s new negotiator Rustem Umerov, who serves as the country’s National Security and Defense Council secretary. (Umerov took over the helm from Andriy Yermak, who resigned as Zelensky’s chief of staff last week after a raid on his home by two national anti-corruption agencies amid a widespread corruption scandal.)

Rubio told reporters after the meeting that while the sit-down was “productive,” there was still “more work” to be done. “Obviously, there’s another party involved [Russia] that will have to be a part of the equation,” he added, having previously said that both Russia and Ukraine “must agree to difficult but necessary concessions.”

European allies are strongly opposed to the idea of Ukraine making land concessions—something Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out. Many have warned that asking Ukraine to give up territory would reward Russian aggression, noting that Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

“We shouldn’t lose focus that it’s actually Russia who has started this war, and Russia that is continuing this war,” Kaja Kallas, the E.U. high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, told reporters on Monday. Kallas shared her fear that Ukraine could be pressured to stop the war by surrendering, something she warns would have major repercussions and is “not in anybody’s interest.”

Putin’s comments on Tuesday echoed his recent statements about the futility of a negotiated peace. During a trip to Kyrgyzstan last week, Putin said pursuing any kind of peace deal was “pointless” as long as Zelensky remained in power. Celebrating Russia’s recent advances on the battlefield, Putin asserted that “if Ukrainian forces leave the territories they hold then we will stop combat operations” but “if they don’t, then we will achieve it by military means.”

Putin’s willingness to keep fighting despite mounting casualties, and his insistence that Ukraine withdraw from territory claimed by Moscow stands in direct opposition to Zelensky’s vow never to cede land, leaving the sides locked in a stalemate.

There is little sign Putin is prepared to compromise moving forward.

Trump previously said the Russian leader has “let [him] down” by refusing to change his position. The pair met in Alaska in August for a summit intended to explore a potential cease-fire. But the meeting ended earlier than planned, with no agreement reached. Critics argued that Putin left the meeting with more leverage than Trump.

In October, Trump and the E.U. imposed new sanctions on Russia, demanding that “now is the time to stop killing.” But the sanctions have done little to slow the Kremlin’s campaign. In fact, the Kremlin all but dismissed the new levies, with Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova arguing that Russia has a “strong immunity” to Western sanctions.