Russian President Vladimir Putin held over three hours of discussions on Saturday with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which a Kremlin aide described as 'highly useful.' However, the aide, Yuri Ushakov, did not indicate any breakthroughs from the talks. Ushakov stated that the US envoys presented various ideas for a potential settlement regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but did not disclose specific details of these ideas.
Putin reportedly informed the envoys that Russia is making 'real progress' on the battlefield and expressed confidence in achieving its objectives, emphasizing the need to address 'all the root causes of the conflict.' This statement aligns with Moscow's consistent messaging since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In recent weeks, both Russia and Ukraine have escalated long-range air strikes, while the front lines have remained largely unchanged. A White House official characterized the talks as 'substantive,' with further steps expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Witkoff and Kushner, who were visiting Moscow for the first time since January, did not comment following the talks. They departed Moscow shortly after and are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.
Ushakov noted that the discussions extended beyond merely exchanging views on the Ukrainian crisis, covering economic issues and potential Russian-American projects. He described the negotiations as timely and beneficial for both parties.
Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, referred to the meeting as an 'important peacemaking visit.' During the talks, Putin acknowledged Trump's efforts to facilitate a resolution to the conflict, stating that Trump is making contributions despite the challenging circumstances.
Trump had indicated on Friday that the US had a new proposal for ending the war but did not provide further details. Putin assured that the safety of the US negotiators would be prioritized, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Putin had instructed the Russian military not to strike Kyiv for three days during their visit.
In the days leading up to the talks, Russia had conducted extensive missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, including an attack on the SBU security service headquarters. Ukraine has responded with strikes on Russian infrastructure, aiming to increase the costs of the ongoing conflict for Moscow. Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine was prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow until Monday.
Despite the talks, Russia and Ukraine remain significantly divided on how to resolve the conflict, which is regarded as the deadliest in Europe since World War II. A source close to the Kremlin indicated that Putin is still focused on territorial expansion, suggesting that an agreement regarding the front line is unlikely until he secures the remaining areas of the Donetsk region, which he believes could happen by the end of the year. However, Western military analysts view this prospect as unlikely due to Russia's slow progress.
Ukraine has firmly rejected any terms that would require it to surrender territory it has defended at great cost, viewing such demands as tantamount to capitulation. The Kremlin reiterated its position that Ukraine must cede the entirety of four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its NATO aspirations, a stance it described as 'unshakeable.'