CBS News chief foreign correspondent and "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan joins "CBS Mornings" to break down where U.S. negotiations stand with Ukraine and Russia and what's next.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. negotiations with Ukraine and Russia are encountering significant challenges, as recent diplomatic efforts have not led to Russian agreement on proposed terms. The talks are being led by figures outside traditional diplomatic channels, including U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Whitkoff, raising questions about the process.

Russian officials have downplayed the significance of recent meetings, and it remains unclear if there is genuine Russian interest in a peace plan. Meanwhile, European leaders are working to support Ukraine through security guarantees, efforts to return kidnapped children, and by seeking access to frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction.

What's next for U.S. negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?

Let's bring in our chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of Face the Nation, Margaret Brennan. Margaret, good morning. Thank you for being here. Where do U.S. negotiations stand right now with the Ukrainians and with the Russians? Well, good morning to you, Tony. This has been one of the most head-snapping rounds of diplomacy that I have ever covered. That Thanksgiving deadline is gone. President Zelensky said he is ready to talk over these really sensitive details with President Trump, but you heard President Trump says he'll have to wait. And as you saw from those Russian bombings overnight, there's a significant obstacle here. This man, Vladimir Putin, he hasn't agreed to any of the terms that the U.S. and Ukraine hammered out in recent days. Overnight, we did hear Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov—Nancy referred to him there—he seemed to really downplay that Abu Dhabi meeting between Russian intelligence and the secretary of the army, Dan Driscoll, and said Russia hasn't discussed an official peace plan in any detail with anyone. There's another unusual element here. The lead negotiators aren't diplomats. Driscoll, this man here, is a very close friend to Ukraine skeptic Vice President J.D. Vance. And as army secretary, is working in parallel with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who does not work for the United States government, alongside envoy Steve Whitkoff, who is new to diplomacy. And those Bloomberg transcripts that Nancy mentioned revealed that the Russians expected that initial proposal from Kushner and Whitkoff to be pro-Russian. And that transcript shows they're coaching Putin's adviser how to persuade Trump to give it a chance. So we don't really know if there's a real Russian interest here. Well, Margaret, that sounds very messy and very complicated. So with that as a backdrop, wow, what's next for U.S. negotiators? Well, Gail, U.S. officials are insisting, as recently as this morning, that progress is being made and that Steve Whitkoff is going to go to Moscow with the latest version of the U.S. proposal for Putin. There is a lot of detail still to be worked out. European leaders are trying to kind of close ranks around Zelensky to help him work out security guarantees to prevent Russia from attacking or invading again, to press for the return of Ukraine's kidnapped children, and also to provide access to frozen Russian funds that are stuck in bank accounts in Europe that Ukraine could use to rebuild. All right, Margaret, we will all keep following the story. Thank you so much.

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What's next for U.S. negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?

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