--- title: "Kushner: Moscow and Kyiv understand that compromises are needed to end the war, despite maximalist stances" description: "Trump's negotiator Jared Kushner stated that Russia and Ukraine understand the need for compromises to end the war, despite tough public stances. According to him, the team is preparing the agenda for the next round of trilateral talks." date: 2026-11-15T10:26:38.801Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kushner-moscow-and-kyiv-understand-compromises-needed tags: [russia-ukraine, peace-talks, jared-kushner, nato, trump-administration] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kushner: Moscow and Kyiv understand that compromises are needed to end the war, despite maximalist stances ![A neon handshake in dark blue and pink tones symbolizes peace talks](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/15/kushner-moskva-i-kiev-ponimayut-chto-nuzhny-kompromissy/kushner-moskva-i-kiev-ponimayut-chto-nuzhny-kompromissy-1.webp) ## Key Points - Jared Kushner stated that Russia and Ukraine understand the need for practical compromises to end the war. - According to him, the team's focus is on direct dialogue between Moscow and Europe and preparing the agenda for the next round of trilateral talks. - The statement followed the first round of talks in Abu Dhabi (Nov 10–11) and meetings between Trump's envoys and Putin and Zelensky. - The New York Times claims it obtained an unofficial document in which the Kremlin reportedly demands returning NATO to its 1997 borders. US President's negotiator and son-in-law Jared Kushner stated that Russia and Ukraine recognize the need for practical compromises to end the war, despite the tough and, in his words, 'maximalist' positions that both sides have put forward publicly. According to his assessment, during closed-door discussions, participants came to the realization that an agreement to end the conflict is unattainable without mutual concessions. The statement came amid the first leaks regarding the content of the parties' positions following the first round of direct talks in Abu Dhabi and subsequent contacts between US mediators and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. ### What Kushner Specifically Said 'The press has reported on some maximalist positions put forward by both sides, as well as tough political rhetoric. During our closed discussions, both sides understand that practical compromises will be required to end this war,' Kushner wrote. Thus, he effectively acknowledged that the public rhetoric of Moscow and Kyiv does not fully reflect what happens behind closed doors, and that both sides are willing to move away from extreme formulations for the sake of a working result. ### Context: Abu Dhabi and Meetings with Putin and Zelensky Kushner's commentary followed the first round of talks between Russia and Ukraine held in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, as well as meetings between President Trump's envoys and Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. It was during this period that details began appearing in the press about how the parties are formulating their demands. According to Kushner, the negotiating team's focus is currently on two areas: direct engagement between Moscow and European countries, and preparing the agenda for the next round of trilateral talks. ### The NYT Document and NATO Border Demands Simultaneously with the American negotiator's statements, reports emerged regarding the content of Russian demands. The New York Times claims it obtained an unofficial document in which, according to its data, the Kremlin essentially repeats the ultimatum issued to Europe and NATO in late 2021. Specifically, the document reportedly contains a demand to return NATO to its 1997 borders—meaning withdrawing troops from Eastern European countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This document is unofficial and has not been confirmed by the Kremlin or other parties, so its content should be viewed as single-source information. ### New Ideas and Breakthrough Prospects Kushner added that several new ideas have emerged during the discussions, which are currently being worked on by the negotiating team. 'Some of these could directly lead to a breakthrough, while others may evolve into new proposals to help bridge remaining differences,' he reported. Thus, the American side positions the current phase as a period of active option generation rather than a deadlock, despite ongoing contradictions between publicly voiced positions. ### What This Means for the Negotiating Process Taken together, Kushner's statements and press leaks paint a picture where the public rhetoric of the parties remains tough, while work on compromise formulations is conducted behind closed doors. A key issue for the upcoming phase will be preparing the agenda for the next round of trilateral talks and the format for direct dialogue between Moscow and European capitals. Meanwhile, according to the American negotiator, both sides share a basic understanding: ending the war is impossible without practical concessions from all sides. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [«В прессе сообщалось о максималистских позициях сторон, но они понимают, что потребуются компромиссы». Джаред Кушнер — о ходе переговоров](https://meduza.io/news/2026/11/15/v-presse-soobschalos-o-maksimalistskih-pozitsiyah-storon-no-oni-ponimayut-chto-potrebuyutsya-kompromissy-dzhared-kushner-o-hode-peregovorov) - Primary source: Kushner's quotes, Abu Dhabi context (Nov 10-11), meetings with Putin and Zelensky, mention of the NYT document on 1997 NATO borders. - [«В прессе сообщалось о максималистских позициях сторон, но они понимают, что потребуются ...](https://torontovka.com/news/russia/2026-11-15/v-presse-soobschalos-o-maksimalistskih-poziciyah-storon-no-oni-ponimayut-179104) - Rebroadcast of Kushner's statement, content matches primary source. ## FAQ ### Who stated the need for compromises between Russia and Ukraine? This was stated by Jared Kushner, US President's negotiator and son-in-law. According to him, during closed discussions, both sides understand that practical compromises will be required to end the war. ### When did the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine take place? The first round of talks took place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, 2026, followed by meetings between President Trump's envoys and Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. ### What, according to The New York Times, is contained in the Russian document? The NYT claims it obtained an unofficial document in which the Kremlin reportedly demands returning NATO to its 1997 borders, including troop withdrawals from Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The document is unofficial and unconfirmed by other parties.