Vladimir Putin has held more than three hours of talks with Donald Trump's envoys as the US makes another attempt to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met the Russian president inside the Kremlin on Saturday, with newly released images showing the trio sitting together for the high-level discussions.
Kremlin describes talks as 'highly useful'
The Kremlin later described the meeting as "highly useful", although there was no immediate announcement of a breakthrough or agreement. The talks followed Trump's announcement that Witkoff and Kushner were travelling to Moscow with a new proposal intended to bring the conflict to an end.
At the beginning of the meeting, Putin welcomed the two Americans and said the situation was "not simple". He also asked them to convey his "best wishes" and words of gratitude to Trump.
Fighting continues as strikes hit Ukraine
The discussions come as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues and civilian casualties mount. At least seven people were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials.
Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to temporarily refrain from attacking each other's capitals while the diplomatic discussions take place. The Kremlin said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said his forces would similarly refrain from attacks on Moscow from Saturday through Monday.
Envoys to visit Kyiv for talks
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Zelenskyy. The visit would mark their first trip to the Ukrainian capital, although both men have previously travelled to Moscow and met Putin, most recently in January.
Despite the renewed diplomatic effort, significant differences remain between Moscow and Kyiv over the terms of any potential settlement. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine surrender territory it claims and abandon its ambition to join NATO, conditions Kyiv has rejected.
