Putin holds Kremlin talks with Witkoff, Kushner

Russian president Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of “highly useful” talks on Saturday with two US envoys seeking a deal to end the Ukraine war, a Kremlin aide said, but gave no indication of any breakthrough. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement”. Ushakov did not provide details of the proposals.

At the start of the meeting in Moscow, Putin asked Kushner and Witkoff to convey his warm wishes and gratitude to Trump, while describing the situation in Ukraine as “not simple.” Putin said Russia would “do our utmost to provide safety of the negotiators” and told Witkoff and Kushner that “it’s convenient for us to work with you.” Putin also said that “such contacts are always beneficial.”

The Russian president praised Trump’s efforts to end the 4 and a half year war in Ukraine. Trump said on Friday that the US had a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict, but did not provide further details. "Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict," ​Putin said.

Witkoff told Putin that US president Donald Trump had sent his best wishes, and thanked Putin for the ceasefire announced during their visit. 'Trump sent you his best wishes,' Witkoff told Putin, as cited by Reuters. The envoys’ visit came as both sides stepped up aerial attacks. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals during the talks.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to halt strikes on Moscow until Monday. He added that he spoke with the US delegation on Saturday afternoon after it arrived in Moscow. "From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv," he said.

As diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, with strikes continuing into the daytime. Earlier on Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service, or SBU, one of Kyiv’s key government buildings. The agency is involved in carrying out long-range strikes inside Russia. Ukraine has also conducted long-range attacks on Russian military sites, oil refineries and e-commerce hubs, targeting infrastructure linked to the Kremlin’s war effort and economy while seeking to bring the impact of the conflict closer to ordinary Russians.