“We are prepared for constructive, honest, and prompt negotiations,” said a U.S. official, signaling a readiness for progress.

According to the official, the United States is engaging equally with both Ukrainian and Russian counterparts to develop the discussion framework.

The US ambassador to Kyiv, Julie Davis, said the talks were “remarkably constructive”. All participants “share President Trump’s vision to end this war” and wanted to move forward quickly, she said.

He said Russia had nothing to add beyond the position Putin laid out at a summit with Trump in August, adding that any peace deal must address the “root causes of the conflict”, a phrase Russia has long used to refer to its demands.

“Ukrainians want peace — a just peace that respects everyone’s sovereignty, a durable peace that can’t be called into question by future aggression,” said French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “But peace cannot be a capitulation.”

Ukrainian military denies Russian Kupiansk claims

Gerasimov told Putin Russian forces had taken control of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, a city Moscow sees as an important target in its westward push through central and eastern Ukraine.