Europeans accuse Putin of feigning interest in peace after talks with US envoys

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, left, during talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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

The Russian leader “should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace,” said British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.