Vladimir Putin has rejected Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan after a five-hour meeting with his top negotiators.
In the latest meeting to try and end the war in Ukraine, the US President’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner put forward Mr Trump’s 28-point plan, which had previously been agreed between Russia and the US.
Key points of the plan included halving the size of the Ukrainian army, banning Ukraine from joining Nato, returning most of Russia’s frozen assets, and recognising Russia’s war gains in Donetsk and Luhansk.
However, just hours before the meeting took place, European leaders opposed parts of the plan which would make decisions about frozen Russian assets, Nato or EU membership without their permission.
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Following discussions with Ukraine and European counterparts, US officials watered down the plans to remove concessions on territory and Nato membership.
Vladimir Putin said tweaks to the plan introduced by Europe were “unacceptable”.
In a chilling threat to EU leaders, President Putin warned: “Europe is offering proposals for a peace plan for Ukraine that are unacceptable to Russia.
“Russia has no intention of going to war with European countries, but if Europe starts a war, Russia is ready right now and then Moscow will have nobody to negotiate with.
Vladimir Putin has rejected Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan after a five-hour meeting with his top negotiators
|GETTY
“Europe has no peace agenda and is now hindering US efforts to resolve the conflict,” Putin added.
Following the negotiations in Moscow, President Putin aide Yuri Ushakov admitted that although talks with the US were “useful” there was still a “lot of work” ahead.
“Peace is no closer, but also no further away,” said Mr Ushakov.
“We agreed with our American colleagues not to disclose the substance of the negotiations that took place. The discussion was confidential,” the aide added.
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Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow to attempt to hash out Mr Trump’s 28-point plan
|GETTY
On the other side of the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to confirm Ukraine has agreed to a US peace deal.
He said: “Now, more than ever, there is a chance to end this war.”
The Ukrainian leader revealed the latest peace plan includes 20 points, rather than the 28 originally proposed.
Mr Zelensky added: “Some things still need to be worked out.”
Mr Putin claimed Europe was 'hindering US efforts to resolve the conflict'
|REUTERS
The negotiations come as President Putin also claimed to have captured the key Ukrainian fortress city of Pokrovsk.
“I would like to thank you for the results of the operations in Pokrovsk – both you, the entire command and personnel of the group, and, of course, the fighters, our guys who are carrying out these combat missions,” he said.
Footage released by Moscow depicted Russian soldiers raising the white, blue and red flag in Pokrovsk's central district.
However, Ukrainian military chiefs claimed it was holding out against a Russian onslaught in the northern part of Pokrovsk.
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