Putin meets US envoys Witkoff and Kushner to discuss settlement of Ukraine conflict
Quick Look
- Vladimir Putin spoke for three hours with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who presented a proposal from Donald Trump to end the conflict in Ukraine.
- The meeting, described as constructive and frank, comes after Russian strikes on kyiv which left at least seven dead.
- The envoys are due to travel to kyiv on Sunday, with Putin reportedly ordering a three-day ceasefire on the Ukrainian capital.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The conflict in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian invasion in February 2022, is experiencing a new diplomatic phase with the arrival of American envoys carrying a proposal from Donald Trump to end hostilities. Recent developments include Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas and mutual calls for a ceasefire during negotiations.
Vladimir Putin spoke for three hours on Saturday with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who according to Donald Trump are carrying a proposal intended to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“The American representatives have carefully prepared for this trip. They not only reiterated their usual interest in a rapid end to hostilities, but they also presented a number of ideas on possible paths leading to a settlement,” Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov told journalists, including AFP.
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“The conversation was constructive, extremely frank and full of trust,” he added, specifying that the Russian side “expressed confidence in achieving the set objectives.” However, “the situation is of course not simple,” Vladimir Putin told the two envoys in a large room in the Kremlin, according to images broadcast by Russian television.
After Moscow, direction kyiv
The two American envoys are expected in kyiv on Sunday.
During the night from Friday to Saturday, kyiv airports were the target of Russian strikes, denounced the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky who saw this as Russia's desire to disrupt their travel to Ukraine. Russian bombings have also left at least seven dead in Ukraine - two in the Boutcha district, near the capital, and five in the Dnipro region, in the center, according to the Ukrainian authorities.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov finally affirmed on Saturday that Vladimir Putin had ordered a cessation of strikes on kyiv for three days, during the envoys' visit. The day before, Volodymyr Zelensky had assured that Ukraine would not bomb Russia during these negotiations and had asked Moscow to “reciprocally ensure a ceasefire” for “the duration necessary to conduct” the talks.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Negotiations between American envoys and Ukrainian officials in kyiv will help refine the American proposal for resolving the conflict
Likely · Within days
A temporary ceasefire will be observed around kyiv during the duration of American negotiations
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- What are the precise details of the American proposal presented by Witkoff and Kushner?
- Will Russia actually respect the three-day ceasefire on kyiv announced by Peskov?
- What concessions are each party prepared to make to achieve a lasting settlement?
- How will Zelensky react to the American proposals during the meeting in kyiv?
