Kremlin Says Ukraine Talks With U.S. Envoys Were 'Useful.' No Sign of Breakthrough.
U.S. envoys flew out of Moscow soon after the talks and are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held extensive talks on Saturday with two U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, seeking a resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war. However, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov gave no indication of a breakthrough from the discussions. Witkoff and Kushner presented various ideas for potential settlement avenues, but Ushakov did not disclose what those ideas were. Despite both sides intensifying long-range air strikes, the front lines have remained largely unchanged.
The White House confirmed the talks were "substantive" and that next steps would be announced in the coming weeks. The discussions extended beyond mere views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis, delving into economic matters and potential mutually beneficial Russian-American projects. Russian President Putin praised Trump's efforts to end the war, emphasizing the necessity of addressing all root causes of the conflict.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed readiness to refrain from strikes on Moscow during the envoys' visit. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on ending the war, with the Kremlin determined to capture more territory, while Ukraine refuses to surrender land it has defended at great cost. The Kremlin maintains its stance that Ukraine cede the entire territory of four regions and abandon its NATO aspirations, which Ukraine rejects as tantamount to surrender.
Western military analysts doubt the feasibility of such demands, given Moscow's slow progress. The Kremlin has labeled The Moscow Times as an undesirable organization, criminalizing its work and risking prosecution. The paper's journalists, however, refuse to be silenced and call for support to continue their independent reporting on Russia.
Written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
