Trump envoys meet Putin as Kremlin outlines conditions for peace in Ukraine

More than three hours of talks between Vladimir Putin and two envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump ended without a concrete breakthrough on the war in Ukraine, even as the Kremlin described the meeting as “very useful.”

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner presented several ideas on possible ways to resolve the conflict. He did not disclose the details. Ushakov said the talks had taken place at the right time and benefited both sides.

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very useful

The discussions went beyond the war, he said, covering economic issues and the possibility of major projects between Russia and the United States that could serve both countries. “The talks went further than simply exchanging views on resolving the Ukraine crisis,” Ushakov said.

Despite that broader agenda, Moscow’s basic position appeared unchanged. Putin said Russia believed it was continuing to make progress on the battlefield and could achieve its military objectives. He again called for addressing what the Kremlin describes as the “root causes of the conflict,” a phrase Moscow repeatedly uses for its strategic demands regarding Ukraine and Europe’s security architecture.

The position suggests limited room for compromise. In recent weeks, both sides have intensified long-range air attacks, while movement along the front line has remained relatively limited.

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The talks went further than simply exchanging views on resolving the Ukraine crisis.

Witkoff and Kushner were visiting Moscow as Trump’s representatives, their first trip there since January. They left soon after the talks and were scheduled to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday. Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who also attended, called the visit an important step in the peace process.

Before the meeting, Putin praised Trump’s efforts to promote an end to the war. Trump had said the previous day that Washington had a new proposal to end the conflict but gave no details. Putin also promised the safety of the American envoys, while the Kremlin said Russian forces had been ordered not to attack Kyiv for three days during their visit. The measure followed more than a week of Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, including a recent attack on the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service, the SBU.

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Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he has nevertheless not stopped his efforts to help achieve a settlement and contribute to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.