US envoys meet Putin then Zelenskyy as Ukraine talks resume

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than three hours in Moscow on Saturday as part of efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as highly useful and constructive after the closed-door session at the Kremlin. The two Americans outlined ideas on possible settlement avenues though no specific details emerged and no breakthrough was announced.

Putin informed the envoys that Russian forces were making real progress on the battlefield and remained confident of reaching their objectives. He stressed the need to address all root causes of the conflict a position Moscow has maintained since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Ushakov noted that the talks went beyond the Ukraine situation to include economic issues and potential major mutually beneficial Russian-American projects.

A White House official characterized the exchanges as substantive and said next steps would be announced in the coming weeks. Witkoff and Kushner made no public comments and departed Moscow shortly after the meeting. They are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday marking their first visit to the Ukrainian capital in these roles.

Both sides have stepped up long-range strikes in recent weeks even as front lines stay largely static. Russia has deployed fast-flying jet-powered drones while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries airfields and air defense systems. Putin and Zelensky agreed to pause strikes on each other's capitals during the current round of diplomacy.

The renewed American push comes after months of focus on the Iran conflict which slowed earlier momentum on Ukraine. This marks the first known visit to Moscow by the envoys since January. Zelensky stated that Kyiv is prepared for constructive talks and seeks to bring the war to a close with necessary security guarantees and a just postwar arrangement.

The discussions reflect an attempt to revive negotiations amid a grinding war that has shown little territorial movement despite heavy costs on all sides. Economic topics raised in Moscow suggest room for broader US-Russia cooperation if a settlement takes shape. The envoys next meetings in Kyiv will test whether similar substance can develop on the Ukrainian side.