Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/APRussia and the United States did not clinch a compromise over peace in Ukraine, and peace is no closer to but also no further away, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday. The comments came after Russian president Vladimir Putin held a meeting in the Kremlin with US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Putin warned that his country was ready to fight Europe “right now” if necessary and accusing it of blocking peace efforts. They have no peace agenda – they are on the side of war,” Mr Putin said. Mr Putin said Russia could take “countermeasures against countries that help Ukraine” or “cut Ukraine off from the sea” to stop what he called acts of “piracy”.
