"Currently, no one has seriously discussed this initiative, and to my knowledge, it is not in preparation," Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters today, referring to trilateral talks involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine.

He added that the chances for peace certainly cannot improve with changes introduced by European and Ukrainian sides to the original US plan.

Advisor Yuri Ushakov in Moscow in May 2024. *Photo: Reuters*

"This is not a prediction," he said. "I assure you that the proposals the European and Ukrainian sides have made or are trying to make do not improve the plan, nor do they enhance the possibility of achieving lasting peace."

The Trump administration in November developed a 28-point peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, subsequently launching a shuttle diplomacy campaign to persuade both sides to accept it.

Russia supported this proposal, while Ukraine and Europe opposed it, as it contained several proposals favorable to Moscow, such as requiring Ukraine to relinquish part of its territory, accept limits on army size, and cease pursuing NATO membership.

European and Ukrainian negotiators recently sought to modify this plan, with Kyiv proposing a 20-point plan. It is currently unclear which points have been changed from the original proposal. Meanwhile, Russia is determined not to concede its demands.

US and Russian negotiators met on 20 December in Miami, Florida. Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of President Putin, stated after a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, that the discussions were constructive and would continue on 21 December.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on 20 December stated that the US had proposed a new format for peace talks, whereby Ukraine, the US, Russia, and likely Europe would all participate in discussions.

By Vu Hoang (Reuters, AFP)