The Kremlin said talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on ways to end the war in Ukraine were “very useful,” as major differences between Moscow and Kyiv continue to complicate efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin adviser, said Putin’s meeting with the two U.S. envoys lasted more than three hours on Saturday. He said Witkoff and Kushner presented several ideas on possible ways to reach a settlement, but did not disclose details or indicate that significant progress had been made.
Putin Says Russia Is Making Battlefield Gains
Ushakov said Putin told Witkoff and Kushner that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield and expressed confidence that Moscow would achieve its objectives.
The Russian president also stressed the need to address what Moscow describes as the “root causes of the conflict,” a position the Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized since the war began.
Witkoff and Kushner have not yet publicly commented on the outcome of the meeting. Their visit marked their first trip to Moscow since January, as the Trump administration intensifies diplomatic efforts to push Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement.
The two U.S. envoys are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Talks Also Focused on Economic Cooperation
Ushakov said the discussions went beyond the military aspects of the conflict and included detailed talks on economic issues and potential Russia-U.S. projects that could, in Moscow’s view, provide mutual benefits.
He described the discussions as “timely” and “very useful” for both sides.
Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for investment affairs, also took part in the meeting and described the U.S. delegation’s visit as an important step in efforts to advance the peace process.
Putin Praises Trump’s Efforts to End the War
Speaking in comments broadcast on Russian television at the start of the meeting, Putin praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Putin said Trump understood the complexity of the situation but continued working toward a settlement and seeking to help resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump said on Friday that the United States had a new proposal aimed at ending the war, although he did not provide details.
Putin also pledged to ensure the safety of the American negotiators during their stay in Russia.
Russia Orders Three-Day Pause in Strikes on Kyiv
The visit by Witkoff and Kushner coincided with the Kremlin’s announcement that Putin had ordered the Russian military to halt strikes on Kyiv for three days.
The decision came after several days of heavy Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, including an attack on the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service on Friday.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has carried out attacks on Russian oil facilities and refineries in recent months, as well as warehouses belonging to e-commerce company Wildberries, as part of efforts to increase pressure on Moscow.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also prepared to refrain from launching attacks on Moscow until Monday.
Major Disputes Continue to Block a Peace Deal
Despite intensified diplomatic contacts between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv, significant differences remain over the terms of any agreement to end the war.
According to a source close to the Kremlin, Putin remains committed to gaining control over additional Ukrainian territory and believes an agreement on the front lines cannot be reached until Russia completes its control over the remaining part of the Donetsk region.
The Russian leadership reportedly believes this objective could be achieved by the end of the year, while Western military analysts remain skeptical, pointing to the slow pace of Russia’s advances on the battlefield.
Ukraine, meanwhile, rejects giving up territory it has managed to defend and views Russian demands for territorial concessions as conditions that amount to surrender.
Moscow Maintains Its Demands
The Kremlin has reiterated that the conditions outlined by Putin two years ago remain at the core of Moscow’s position. They include Ukraine giving up all territories claimed by Russia in four regions and abandoning its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The latest talks come as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange long-range aerial attacks, following the last round of U.S.-mediated peace talks in February, while tensions and clashes at sea have also intensified.
The latest developments underscore the difficulty of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement, with major disagreements still unresolved over territory, security guarantees and the final terms of any settlement.
