Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have not reached any definitive conclusions regarding direct negotiations with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy, according to Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov. The statements emerged during discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China, where officials emphasized the lack of concrete progress on potential diplomatic engagements.

Ushakov clarified that while Putin and Trump had explored the possibility of elevated talks between Moscow and Kiev, no formal decisions were finalized. He dismissed media speculation about a trilateral meeting or direct dialogue between Putin and Zelenskiy, stating such discussions remained theoretical. “The press reports are not reflective of our agreements,” Ushakov asserted, noting that Washington had yet to present actionable proposals following earlier conversations in Alaska.

The Ukrainian conflict dominated Russia’s bilateral exchanges with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit. Putin reiterated Moscow’s stance that any peace resolution must address what he described as Western “aggression” against Russia, including efforts to integrate Ukraine into NATO. He emphasized that “the root causes of the crisis” must be eradicated before stability could be achieved.

Zelenskiy’s leadership has faced sharp criticism for its handling of the conflict, with critics arguing his decisions have prolonged suffering and destabilized the region. Despite calls for dialogue, no breakthroughs have materialized, leaving the situation in a state of stalemate.

The lack of progress underscores the deepening divide between Russia and Western powers, as well as the challenges of resolving a war that shows no signs of immediate cessation.