Russia says U.S. peace talks are 'constructive' as it pushes back on European proposals

The talks to end the war in Ukraine shifted back to the U.S. this weekend, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s envoy calling discussions “constructive” as Washington pushes for a peace deal by Christmas. The Kremlin's envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, expressed optimism in brief comments to reporters in Miami on Saturday after meetings with the American negotiators. “The discussions are constructive,” he said. “They began and continued today and will also continue tomorrow.” Negotiators from Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. said last week that Kyiv has been offered robust security guarantees , including one that would mirror NATO's Article 5 and ensure a collective response from Ukraine’s allies if Moscow ever attacks again. The Kremlin has voiced skepticism that any of the terms agreed to would be acceptable to it, and Putin’s foreign aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters Sunday that changes to the peace plan sought by Kyiv and Europeans “certainly do not improve the documents or enhance the prospects for achieving long-term peace,” the Russian state news agency Tass reported. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., meanwhile, said Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that the U.S. negotiators were at risk of "overestimating" Putin's willingness to end the war as talks drag on and the conflict rages. "I think Putin's going to continue to take the Donbas by force until we increase pressure," he told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker, adding: "We keep engaging Russia, we keep trying to lure Putin to the peace table, and he rebuffs all of our efforts." "I would go all in if Putin says no," Graham said, calling for the U.S. to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and seize container ships carrying sanctioned Russian oil. President Donald Trump has been pressuring Kyiv into a peace that would heavily favor Russia, but Ukraine has been unequivocal in refusing to give up territory that Moscow has not taken by force - which was part of Trump’s original 28-point peace plan leaked to the media last month. The plan has been revamped in a flurry of diplomatic engagements in European capitals and the U.S. over the last couple of weeks to make it more palatable to Ukraine, but key issues involving Kyiv’s sovereignty and territories have yet to be resolved. “Peace is better than war, but not at any cost, because we have already paid a high price,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Saturday on Telegram. His negotiating team met with the American delegation and European officials Friday, ahead of their meetings with Dmitriev. Zelenskyy also said Saturday that the U.S. has proposed a trilateral meeting, involving Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, in an unexpected development, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state news agency RIA on Sunday that Putin was willing to speak directly with French President Emmanuel Macron. Europeans have been struggling for a seat at the negotiating table, largely frozen out of talks between Washington and the Kremlin. Peskov said any possible dialogue with Macron would have to be about “trying to...

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