Putin holds three-hour talks with Trump envoys on Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in protracted discussions with United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, lasting over three hours at the Kremlin on Saturday night. These late-night talks were held in Moscow ahead of the US envoys' scheduled visit to Kyiv on Sunday. Trump had previously disclosed that Kushner and business associate Witkoff brought a proposal to the table, aiming to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Their impending trip to Kyiv represents their inaugural visit to the Ukrainian capital amid Washington's efforts to revive US-led negotiations over the protracted war, which has emerged as Europe's most lethal conflict since World War II. Both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day cease-fire to facilitate diplomatic engagement.

In a televised address prior to the Kremlin meeting, Putin expressed gratitude to Trump for persisting in his efforts to conclude the war, despite its intricate nature. The Russian leader stated that he recognized Trump's unwavering commitment to finding a resolution to the conflict, which Russia initiated in 2022, calling the task a challenging one.

The Kremlin head has consistently asserted Russia's intention to secure control over the remaining sections of eastern Ukraine. However, Washington has remained silent on whether its proposed peace plan would necessitate Kyiv ceding territory. The meeting occurred after a series of intense battles, resulting in a sharp increase in civilian casualties on both sides.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes claimed 10 lives across the country on Saturday, including a child and his family in the Kharkiv region, as well as two individuals outside Kyiv. Despite Moscow's recurrent assaults on the Ukrainian capital throughout the war, Putin reassured the visiting US envoys that Russia would take measures to safeguard them during their Kyiv visit.

"We will do everything within our power to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators like yourselves," Putin stated to Witkoff and Kushner.