Putin-Witkoff talks ‘constructive’ – Russian presidential aide
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has hailed “very useful” talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Friday. According to Ushakov, the three hour meeting brought the positions of Moscow and Washington “closer” on the Ukraine conflict and other global issues.
The discussion, which lasted for around three hours, was “very useful,” and brought “the positions of Russia and the US closer not only on Ukraine, but also on a number of other international issues,” Ushakov told reporters.
In particular, Putin and Witkoff discussed the “possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov said, without providing further details.
In recent months, Witkoff has held multiple rounds of talks with senior Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin. He is seen as one of the key figures behind the rapprochement between Moscow and Washington during Trump’s second presidency. The US president has repeatedly pledged to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling it one of his top priorities.
Moscow has consistently expressed willingness to engage in negotiations, conveying its gratitude for Trump’s peace initiatives. However, the Russian leadership has repeatedly stressed that it seeks a lasting solution to the crisis, saying a temporary halt in the hostilities would simply allow Ukraine’s Western backers to rearm its military. Any peace deal must acknowledge the territorial reality and address the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, Russia has insisted.
