Vladimir Putin has held more than three hours of talks with Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in what could be a major breakthrough for peace in Ukraine. New pictures released from inside the Kremlin show the Russian president meeting Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner around a table as Washington attempts to revive stalled peace negotiations.
Talks described as 'highly useful'
The talks in Moscow lasted more than three hours, with the Kremlin later describing them as "highly useful". However, no details of any agreement were announced.
Mr Trump said on Friday that the two men were carrying a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict, which has now entered its fifth year.
Putin's remarks to US envoys
Speaking at the start of the meeting, Putin told the American envoys that the situation was "not simple" and asked them to pass on his "best wishes" to Mr Trump.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of some of the heaviest fighting in recent weeks. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to temporarily halt attacks on each other's capitals while the US envoys travel between Moscow and Kyiv.
Ceasefire and upcoming Kyiv visit
The Kremlin said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days from midnight Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy subsequently said Ukraine would also refrain from attacks on Moscow through Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday to meet President Zelenskyy. It will be their first visit to the Ukrainian capital since Mr Trump returned to the White House.
Intensifying conflict and divisions
The diplomatic push comes as the war continues to intensify, with Russia and Ukraine carrying out increasingly long-range missile and drone strikes. Russian attacks killed at least seven people in Ukraine on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials, while Moscow said its forces had intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones.
The latest talks also come amid deep divisions over the terms of any potential peace agreement. Russia has continued to demand major territorial concessions from Ukraine and has opposed Kyiv joining NATO. Ukraine has rejected demands that would require it to surrender territory. The Kremlin has not indicated that Putin is prepared to abandon those core demands.
