Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, at the Kremlin on Tuesday. The meeting is part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to broker a peace deal in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which has been raging for four years. Both parties agreed not to disclose the details of the discussion.
According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, the conversation was “very useful, constructive, and highly substantive” and lasted for five hours. This allowed for an in-depth exploration of prospects for joint efforts towards a long-term peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis. Ushakov’s statement suggests that the meeting was productive and laid the groundwork for future cooperation.
The meeting follows recent talks between US officials and a Ukrainian delegation in Florida, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as “productive” but acknowledged that more work needs to be done. A US-backed peace plan was made public last month, sparking concerns that it may be biased towards Moscow. The proposal included concessions to the Kremlin, such as Ukraine ceding the eastern region of Donbas to Russia and abandoning its bid to join NATO. Although negotiators have indicated that the framework has undergone changes, the specifics remain unclear.
In a separate development, the Kremlin released a video claiming to show Russian troops waving a flag in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. The authenticity of the video has not been verified, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the matter. However, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated on Monday that fighting was still ongoing in the area. Pokrovsk is a strategic location along the eastern front line, situated within the “fortress belt” of Donetsk, which is crucial to Ukraine’s defense of the region.
The meeting between Putin and the US delegation underscores the ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the latest developments will impact the prospects for a lasting resolution. The international community will be closely watching the situation, awaiting further updates on the progress of the peace talks and the outcome of the conflict.