US Envoys Set for Ukraine Talks After Three-Hour Moscow Meeting With Putin
Senior American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday for three-hour, closed-door talks, ahead of planned discussions with Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready for "a substantive conversation" with the US delegation.
According to Russian state media, the negotiations took place at Putin's official residence in the Russian capital. Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to the Russian President, described the talks as "constructive, extremely frank." He said the discussions went beyond the Ukraine crisis, covering economic issues and potential joint Russian-American projects.
"The talks were not limited to an exchange of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis - economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in considerable detail," Ushakov said.
He also said that the Russian army's advances in the combat zone were noted, and that participants agreed the talks needed to address what Moscow calls the "root causes of the conflict."
The positive framing from Moscow contrasts with the ongoing hostilities on the ground. Russia has escalated missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, while Ukrainian forces have continued targeting Russian economic infrastructure, particularly oil installations. Ground fighting has largely been characterised by slow movements and heavy casualties for both sides.
Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, areas it seized in 2022. The Ukrainian government says it faces difficulty repelling ballistic missile attacks due to a shortage of interceptor missiles, while its own strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries have aimed to reduce Moscow's military resources.
Witkoff and Kushner have visited Russia several times as part of US mediation efforts since President Donald Trump returned to office. Because Ukraine's airspace has been closed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, it is not clear how the envoys will travel from Moscow to Kyiv. Their previous visits to Ukraine have typically involved rail or road travel via Poland.
Zelensky's office confirmed his readiness for dialogue but gave no further details about the agenda or timing. His statement follows months of escalating aerial attacks between the two countries, with Moscow launching wave after wave of drones and missiles and Kyiv striking fuel depots deep inside Russia.
The talks came after Trump used his inauguration speech to call for an end to the war, and his administration has since pushed both sides to negotiate. However, no comprehensive ceasefire agreement has been reached so far. Earlier reports suggested Trump and Zelensky had differing views on how to proceed, with Kyiv insisting on security guarantees and territorial integrity while Moscow demands recognition of annexed regions.
Saturday's meeting is being seen as part of a broader effort to establish a framework for a ceasefire. The Kremlin's emphasis on economic cooperation suggests that the discussions may also touch upon post-war trade ties. Russia and the United States have had limited economic engagement since Western sanctions were imposed after the invasion.
Both sides issued positive remarks without giving details, a common approach during early-stage diplomacy. The coming days will show whether these parallel discussions can reduce tensions or produce any concrete agreements. For now, the conflict continues, and civilians on both sides bear the burden of the war.
