VLAD INTENTIONS ON MAKING PEACE

UKRAINE and its European allies accused Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday of feigning interest in peace efforts after five hours of talks with US envoys at the Kremlin produced no breakthrough.

- BY LORNE COOK

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the Russian leader to “stop wasting the world’s time”.

On Tuesday, Putin accused the Europeans of sabotaging the US-led peace efforts and warned that, if provoked, Russia would be ready for war with them.

Since the 2022 invasion, European governments, along with the US, have spent billions of dollars to support Kyiv financially and militarily.

But under President Donald Trump, the US has tempered its support, and instead made a push to end the war.

Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Tuesday's talks at the Kremlin between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were “positive”.