Kremlin hails talks with Trump envoys on Ukraine conflict

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks lasting more than three hours on Saturday with two US envoys seeking a deal to end the war in Ukraine, describing the discussions as "extremely useful" but noting no progress was made.

Ushakov added that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner "put forward a number of ideas regarding possible ways to reach a settlement." Ushakov did not specify what those ideas were.

He said Putin told the envoys that Russia is making "real progress" on the battlefield and is confident of achieving its objectives, while stressing the need to address "all root causes of the conflict."

Moscow has repeatedly made such statements during the war, which has lasted more than four and a half years. In recent weeks, both sides have intensified long-range airstrikes, while front lines have remained largely unchanged.

There has been no comment yet from Witkoff and Kushner, who visited Moscow for the first time since January on behalf of former President Donald Trump.

The envoys left Moscow by air shortly after the talks and are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.

Ushakov said, "The talks went beyond simply exchanging views on resolving the Ukraine crisis. Economic issues and potential major Russian-American projects of mutual benefit were discussed in some detail."

He added, "Overall, it can be said that the negotiations were timely and extremely useful for both sides."

Putin's envoy for investment, Kirill Dmitriev, later wrote on X that the visit was "important for bringing peace." Both he and Ushakov attended the meeting.

In televised remarks at the start of the talks, Putin praised Trump's efforts to end the war. Trump had said on Friday that the US has a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict, but gave no details.

Putin said, "Despite understanding the difficulty of the situation, he continues to make efforts to help reach a settlement and contribute to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict."

Putin promised to ensure the safety of the US negotiators. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin had ordered the Russian military not to strike Kyiv for three days during the US envoys' visit.

In the ten days prior, Russia had bombarded the Ukrainian capital day and night with missiles and drones, including a strike on Friday targeting the headquarters of Ukraine's security service.

Over the summer, Ukraine damaged Russian refineries, oil facilities, and warehouses belonging to online retailer Wildberries, in an effort to raise the cost of the war for Moscow.

Zelensky said Kyiv is prepared not to launch any attacks on Moscow until Monday.

Major differences remain between Russia and Ukraine over how to end the war, which has become Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

A source close to the Kremlin, speaking before reports of the Trump envoys' possible visit, said Putin remains determined to seize more territory.

The source told Reuters, "There is no chance of agreeing on the front line until Putin finishes securing the remaining part of Donetsk region," adding that the Russian president is confident, based on his commanders' reports, that this will happen by year-end.

Western military analysts see such an outcome as unlikely, given the slow pace of Russian advances. Ukraine refuses to cede territory it has defended at great cost, viewing such terms as surrender.

The Kremlin said yesterday that Putin's position, outlined in a speech two years ago—that Ukraine must give up all territory in the four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its bid to join NATO—remains "unchanged."

Both sides have intensified long-range airstrikes inside each other's territory since the last US-brokered peace talks in February, while the conflict at sea has also escalated.