Vladimir Putin hosted US negotiators at the Kremlin on Tuesday for five hours of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which a Russian official said had been productive.
The discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were held behind closed doors and details have not yet emerged.
They came shortly after Putin said European demands over a US-Russia draft peace plan were unacceptable, adding that if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready to do so.
The US envoys went to Moscow after similar talks with delegates from Kyiv in the last fortnight. Ukraine's President Zelensky said he expected a briefing by the US team after the meeting.
He said there was an opportunity to end the war now more than ever but that elements of the proposals still needed to be worked out.
Everything depends on today's discussions, Zelensky told a press conference in Dublin during an official visit to Ireland.
Kyiv representatives have twice met US negotiators, including Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, since the 28-point peace plan - viewed to favour Moscow - was circulated in November.
After talks with Ukraine over the weekend, the White House said the proposals had been very much refined, although details of the updated plans have not been confirmed.
Some key disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain regarding Ukrainian sovereignty over the territories Russia partly controls and security guarantees.
Zelensky said on Tuesday there were no simple solutions, repeating his insistence that Kyiv take part in peace discussions, and that clear security guarantees be agreed, such as Nato membership - a move long opposed by Russia.
Putin appeared immovable on its demands last week, while Zelensky has reiterated he would not relinquish control of eastern Ukrainian regions.
While Tuesday's talks were under way, Trump stated that the conflict had not been easy to resolve and acknowledged the challenges both sides faced.
Kyiv's European allies countered the 28-point plan with their own document - removing many contentious elements, such as the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as de facto Russian.
During the meeting, Putin maintained that Europe's demands were hindering peace efforts.
As the negotiations unfolded, fighting continued on the front lines. Ukraine's military engaged Russian troops in the crucial eastern city of Pokrovsk, contradicting claims of its capture. Reports indicated ongoing losses for Russian forces as Ukraine asserted control over key areas.
The conflict, which erupted in full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides and widespread destruction in Ukrainian cities.
