Ukraine talks with US envoys were useful; no sign of breakthrough, Kremlinsays

Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of “highly useful” talks on Saturday with two US envoys seeking a deal to end the Ukraine war, a Kremlin aide said, but he gave no indication of any breakthrough.The aide, Yuri Ushakov, said Americans Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement.” Ushakov did not say what these ideas were.He said Putin had told the pair that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield and was confident of achieving its goals, while stressing the necessity of addressing “all the root causes of the conflict.”These are statements that Moscow has made repeatedly since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Russia’s smaller neighbor in February 2022.Both sides have intensified long-range air strikes in recent weeks while the front lines remain largely static.A White House official told Reuters the talks had been “substantive” and that next steps would be announced in the coming weeks.There was no comment from Witkoff and Kushner, who were visiting Moscow for the first time since January on behalf of President Donald Trump.They flew out of Moscow soon after the talks and are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.“The talks went beyond a mere exchange of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis.Economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in some detail,” Ushakov said.

“Overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides.”Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, posted on X that the meeting had been an “important peacemaking visit.” He and Ushakov were both present at the meeting.The Russian president praised Trump’s efforts to end the war.“Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contributio...