Trump Claims US Close to Peace Deal in Ukraine after Putin Hosted Kushner and Envoy for Secret Kremlin Talks
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States is “working very hard” to end the Ukraine conflict and expressed optimism that a peace agreement involving Russia and Ukraine could soon be reached.
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Trump’s comments came amid intensifying diplomatic contacts between Washington and Moscow, including a five-hour meeting at the Kremlin on December 2 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner.
According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the discussions focused on a revised US peace proposal composed of four key documents, which aim to form the basis of a negotiated end to the war.
This direct engagement — involving figures close to Trump — has raised speculation about Washington's parallel diplomatic track, separate from the official State Department channels and distinct from the positions taken by the Biden administration earlier in the conflict.
While no formal statements were issued following the Kremlin meeting, both sides indicated substantive engagement, with Ushakov confirming that the American side presented updated proposals that were being taken seriously in Moscow.
The US had earlier submitted a 28-point roadmap for a Ukraine settlement, but the plan faced strong opposition from both Kyiv and several European capitals, which objected to what they viewed as premature concessions to Moscow. Following consultations in Geneva on November 23 and Florida on November 30, the plan was reportedly narrowed to 22 points after input from Ukrainian and Russian negotiators.
Sources familiar with the discussions say the outstanding disagreements center on long-term security guarantees, political autonomy for certain Ukrainian regions, and the sequencing of elections and troop withdrawals.
Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who leads Kyiv’s delegation in the talks, is expected to arrive in Washington on December 4 for follow-up meetings with Envoy Witkoff, indicating that the process is advancing despite skepticism in parts of the Ukrainian leadership.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishina confirmed the trip, suggesting a possible narrowing of differences.
US Vice President JD Vance also expressed cautious optimism, telling NBC News that while the Ukraine war “has been a source of perennial frustration for the White House,” there may be “some good news” in the coming weeks.
“We’ve made a lot of progress,” Vance said. “But we’re not quite across the finish line.”
At the Kremlin, Putin’s direct involvement — and his decision to meet with Kushner and Witkoff personally — underscores the seriousness with which Moscow views the initiative.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova later confirmed that the discussions were intended to deliver real outcomes, not just “public relations exercises,” and that Moscow was focused on solutions, not symbolism.
Trump’s claims of brokering peace also serve a dual political purpose, reinforcing his campaign narrative ahead of the 2024 US election that he alone can restore global stability.
However, whether the evolving diplomatic track will translate into a viable and lasting peace agreement remains uncertain, particularly given Ukraine’s resistance to territorial compromise and growing European anxiety over the shape of any US-Russia accord.