Putin meets with Trump envoys Witkov and Kushner to discuss ending war in Ukraine

“We are ready to make our views known.”

US delegation plans to visit Kiev after Moscow

(Istanbul = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Dong-ho = Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's eldest son-in-law Jared Kushner on the 5th (local time) to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine.

According to the TASS news agency, President Putin met Special Envoy Witkov and Kushner at the Kremlin this afternoon and said of President Trump, "He is not stopping his efforts to contribute to the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict."

“The situation we have to deal with today is not easy,” he said, but said he was “ready to make our views known” and would discuss “all aspects” with the United States.

“The level of mediation and trust in the mediator are very important,” Putin said to the U.S. delegation, adding, “I feel comfortable working with you and I trust you highly.”

He also said, “I understand that you are planning to go to Kiiu after visiting Moscow,” and added, “No matter what happens in the future, this kind of meeting will be beneficial.”

Putin promised to ensure the safety of the U.S. delegation and negotiations.

He said that Russia decided to stop its attacks on Kiev for three days from this day, and that Ukraine also reduced its attacks on Russia by about one-tenth, but drew a line by saying, "We did not accept Ukraine's request for a wide-scale ceasefire for three days."

Special Envoy Witkoff said, “Thank you for the invitation,” and added, “President Trump asked me to send my regards to President Putin.”

He also said, "We are grateful that Russia agreed to a three-day ceasefire. We will be able to fly safely during this period."

Special Envoy Witkoff also expressed gratitude for the release and return to Korea last month of Robert Gilman, an American former U.S. Marine who was arrested in Russia in January 2022 and detained for over four years, and President Putin gave credit to President Trump, who requested his release, saying he should be thankful.

This is the eighth time Special Envoy Witkoff has visited Russia, and the third time he accompanied Kushner. Their visit to Kiiu, the Ukrainian capital, on the 6th will be their first during the war.

TASS predicted that several aspects of the Ukrainian peace process will be addressed in the meeting between President Putin and the US delegation.