US envoys meet Putin then Zelenskyy as Ukraine talks resume

Russian President Vladimir Putin spent more than three hours with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday in Moscow, discussing possible paths to end the war in Ukraine. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the session as highly useful and constructive, noting that the visitors outlined ideas for a settlement and touched on economic cooperation. He added that Putin stressed Russia's battlefield advances and the need to resolve the conflict's root causes, positions Moscow has repeated since the 2022 invasion.

No specific proposals emerged from the closed-door talks. Ushakov avoided details on the American suggestions, and Russian statements focused on familiar demands rather than new openings. Front lines have stayed largely static despite intensified long-range strikes by both sides in recent weeks, with Russian forces using jet-powered drones and Ukrainian units targeting refineries and air defenses.

A White House official called the Moscow discussions substantive and said next steps would be announced in coming weeks. Witkoff and Kushner, visiting Russia for the first time since January on behalf of President Donald Trump, offered no public comment before departing for Kyiv. They are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.

Zelensky said his team is prepared for constructive talks and emphasized the need for peace, security guarantees, and a sustainable postwar arrangement. Ukrainian forces reported downing most of a recent wave of Russian drones and missiles while striking targets inside Russia, including an oil refinery supplying the military. Russian attacks have continued on Ukrainian infrastructure even as air-raid sirens sound regularly in the capital.

The renewed diplomatic effort comes after months of reduced American focus on Ukraine amid attention to the Iran conflict. Past visits by the same envoys produced similar statements without visible movement on core disputes. Russian claims of steady progress on the ground contrast with the unchanged map of control, while both capitals have shown willingness to pause strikes on each other's major cities only during the current round of talks.

Economic topics received attention in Moscow, including potential joint projects, yet these discussions occurred against the backdrop of ongoing military operations. Historical patterns in such negotiations suggest that battlefield realities and incentives for each side often outweigh verbal commitments to broad principles. The envoys' shift to Kyiv will test whether Ukrainian positions align more closely with any concrete American proposals than the Russian stance has so far.