Ushakov reported on the progress of Russia–US contacts on settlement issues
Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov reported on the current state of contacts between Russia and the United States, emphasizing that a direct meeting between the leaders of the two states is not planned at this time. According to him, the negotiation process continues in a working format, and both sides maintain open channels for discussing issues related to possible ways of achieving a long-term settlement. Ushakov noted that despite the lack of final agreements, the participants in the dialogue see significant potential for cooperation.
During the discussions, Moscow received additional documents related to proposals for resolving the situation in Ukraine. In addition to the initial plan prepared by the American side, which includes twenty-eight points, Russia was also presented with four more materials submitted as supplements. The contents of these documents are not disclosed, as the parties agreed not to publish details of the negotiations in order to ensure the possibility of continuing work without external pressure.
Ushakov stressed that diplomatic contacts are at the stage of active analysis and further evaluation. The preparation of materials continues, and discussions cover a wide range of topics related both to security issues and to the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries. Representatives of the delegations are considering various options that may form the basis for moving to a more substantive phase of the dialogue.
Special attention was given to Witkoff’s visit, which took place within the framework of an exchange of views on economic issues. According to Ushakov, during the meeting, the President of Russia and the American representative discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation in areas where mutual interests remain. They also touched on the prospects of trade and economic relations and the conditions under which such contacts could be maintained or restored in the future.
Ushakov added that the negotiations did not increase the distance between the sides and that the continued exchange of documents and positions allows the general structure of the dialogue to be preserved. Representatives of Russia and the United States confirmed their intention to continue working on possible settlement options without disclosing the content of the closed discussions. The agencies of both countries agreed that confidentiality is a necessary component of the process.
The presidential aide also stated that during Witkoff’s visit both sides exchanged greetings from the leaders of the states. According to Ushakov, the US president sent greetings to his Russian counterpart, and the Russian president conveyed his wishes in response through the American representative. Such gestures are regarded as part of diplomatic protocol and are not directly related to the details of the negotiations.
Ushakov stressed that despite the complexity of the topics under discussion, work continues as planned. Various proposals are being reviewed, the legal and political aspects of each point are being evaluated, and possible mechanisms for implementation are being considered in the event an agreement is reached. He noted that for both sides it is important to ensure thorough preparation of each document to avoid discrepancies during further progress in the negotiation process.
At this stage, the main focus is on systematizing materials and clarifying positions on specific areas. Ushakov stated that the discussions are taking place in a constructive atmosphere and that both sides note the presence of prospects for continued dialogue. It is expected that work will proceed within the established formats and that new contacts will take place as the parties are ready to discuss the next stages.