Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow to discuss potential paths to end the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held over three hours of talks on Saturday with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding the war in Ukraine. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the meeting as "highly useful" and noted that economic projects were discussed, though he indicated no breakthrough had been reached. The envoys, representing President Donald Trump, are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday.

Meeting Details and Scope

Ushakov stated that the U.S. envoys presented various ideas for a settlement, though specific details were not disclosed. In addition to the conflict, the discussions covered potential major economic projects between Russia and the United States. Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, characterized the visit as an "important peacemaking" effort.

Positions on the Conflict

During the meeting, Putin emphasized that Russia is making progress on the battlefield and insisted that any resolution must address the root causes of the conflict. The Kremlin maintains that its position—requiring Ukraine to cede four regions and abandon NATO aspirations—remains unchanged. Conversely, Ukraine has rejected terms that would involve surrendering territory it has defended.

Security and Military Context

To ensure the safety of the U.S. negotiators, Putin ordered the Russian military to refrain from striking Kyiv for three days. This pause follows a period of intense Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Meanwhile, Ukraine has agreed to refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday.