US peace envoys set for Kyiv visit after talks with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in more than three hours of discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday, as Washington sought to broker an end to the ongoing Ukraine war. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov deemed the talks "highly useful," stating that the US envoys presented several ideas for potential settlement avenues.

Ushakov did not disclose specifics of the proposals or confirm any breakthrough had been reached. Putin informed the envoys of Russia's "real progress" on the battlefield and expressed confidence in achieving its objectives, while emphasizing the need to address what Moscow considers the root causes of the conflict. The White House described the talks as "substantive," suggesting that further steps would be announced in the coming weeks.

The US negotiators, visiting Moscow for the first time since January, are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday. The talks extended beyond the Ukraine conflict to include economic matters and potential major Russian-American projects. Kremlin investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the visit an "important peacemaking visit."

Putin praised Trump's efforts to end the war, stating that Trump is entering a difficult situation but continues to help bring about a settlement and contribute to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Trump had announced a new proposal aimed at ending the war earlier that day, though he did not provide details. The Kremlin also temporarily halted Russian forces from striking Kyiv for three days during the envoys' visit, following Russia's intensified missile and drone attacks against Ukraine over the previous 10 days.

Ukraine, in turn, has struck Russian refineries, oil terminals, and warehouses to heighten the cost of Moscow's prolonged war effort. Kyiv has pledged to refrain from striking Moscow through Monday, while Russia remains committed to capturing additional territory, including parts of the Donetsk region. Western analysts have warned that Russia's prospects of rapidly securing these areas remain slim.

The Kremlin has reiterated that Putin's stance on Ukraine ceding the four regions claimed by Russia and abandoning NATO membership is "unshakeable."