Charles Maines

proposals was a normal part of the negotiating process.

Peskov said Moscow remained open to future meetings to narrow differences, but that Russia preferred diplomacy out of the public eye.

The comments came after a late-night marathon meeting between Putin and White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin failed to reach a compromise.

The Americans had sought Putin's support for a revised U.S.

peace plan for Ukraine, one that included more input from Ukraine and Europe after an earlier draft was criticized as heavily weighted in Russia's favor.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea Russia had dismissed the US peace plan outright, saying Putin's give-and-take over US proposals was a normal part of the negotiating process.

Peskov said Moscow remained open to future meetings to narrow differences, but that Russia preferred diplomacy out of the public eye.

The comments came after a late-night marathon meeting between Putin and White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin failed to reach a compromise.

The Americans had sought Putin's support for a revised U.S.

peace plan for Ukraine, one that included more input from Ukraine and Europe after an earlier draft was criticized as heavily weighted in Russia's favor.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

This deal was initially tilted in Russia's favor, which got Putin's cautious endorsement.

But then came the blowback.

Ukraine, Europe, even some Republicans in Congress said this was unacceptable and they demanded changes.

And so with each revision, they pulled it further away from a deal Moscow liked.

And these scenes of Putin and his generals certainly seem an attempt to convince the U.S.

that there's just no alternative but for Ukraine to bend to core Russian demands.

Morning, Leila.

Yeah, sure.