Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the Kremlin:
"The results of the meeting between Russia and the United States at the Kremlin have led to 'no further differences' in resolving the Ukraine issue. The prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and the United States were also discussed."
Economic cooperation is quite interesting.
It's worth noting a detail: Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump, participated for the first time, and he even had caviar at a Michelin restaurant first. Such informal channels may be more critical than formal negotiations.
The situation of Ukraine being left out is too pitiful; the secret talks between Russia and the US excluded even Europe. Zelenskyy said, "We cannot act behind Ukraine's back," but his voice has clearly been weakened.
The most intriguing part is the way the Russian side expressed its position. Ushakov said "some can be accepted and some cannot," combined with Putin's threat to strike Black Sea vessels, it clearly shows an attitude of walking away if no agreement is reached. The US's move to suspend military aid indicates that Trump really wants to withdraw.
The statement about "no further differences" should be viewed in context. In fact, it means both sides have revealed their bottom lines, but reaching a consensus is still far off. It's like two groups of people standing on the edge of a cliff, stopping, but neither has stepped back.
Although the differences between Russia and the US on the Ukraine issue have not expanded, the territorial deadlock remains the core obstacle, while the prospect of economic cooperation has become an important lever for both sides to test strategic compromises.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850524165416972/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.