Yasko stated that was largely on account of Putin’s lukewarm curiosity in attaining peace.
“[Putin] was smiling so much at this meeting with Witkoff, but absolutely this is not about the peace itself,” she stated. “He’s interested in showing that he’s geopolitically active … how cool you are, how Americans are treating you and that you are not a war criminal.”
The Tuesday assembly within the Russian capital, which additionally included Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was a part of a concerted push by the White Home to dealer an settlement based mostly on a Trump administration proposal.
That proposal was initially floated by the White Home weeks in the past as a 28-point plan, however Ukraine and its European companions balked at requires Kyiv to cede occupied territory to Russia, and the draft was later amended throughout talks with Ukrainian and European officers.
After the five-hour spherical of talks on Tuesday, Yuri Ushakov, a senior adviser to Putin, advised reporters the dialog was “rather useful, constructive, rather substantive,” however that “we are no closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine, and there is much work to be done.”
“Putin is trying to have his new world order by playing a central part in the [global] economy with China and the U.S. and with other parts of the world,” Yasko stated. “Now Trump is offering a deal with benefits for [the] Russian economy. It’s insanity for all of us here in Ukraine.”
Putin, talking earlier than the talks in Moscow on Tuesday, accused America’s European allies of standing in the best way of Mr. Trump’s efforts to dealer a peace deal, saying he wasn’t searching for a battle with Europe, however including that Russia was “ready for war.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to journalists throughout a press convention Dec. 2, 2025, in Moscow, Russia.
Contributor/Getty Photos
Yasko urged Mr. Trump to return and see for himself the influence of Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion on Ukraine and its folks — a visit Zelenskyy has additionally repeatedly urged his American counterpart to make.
Yasko known as the peace deal initially put ahead by the Trump administration “insulting” to Ukraine.
Many European leaders have voiced concern that if Russia is given what it needs in change for a ceasefire in Ukraine, it might set a harmful precedent of appeasing a unilateral landgrab, and it may encourage Russia to extend threats towards their nations.
Already, America’s Western European NATO allies have accused Russia of breaching their airspace with drone flights round airports and navy bases, in addition to fighter jets. There have additionally been allegations of a widespread Russian sabotage marketing campaign concentrating on key infrastructure in Europe.
European leaders, in the meantime, seem to have been largely sidelined because the White Home negotiates instantly with Russia and Ukraine.
