Putin hosts Witkoff, Kushner at Kremlin for Ukraine talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday for more than three hours of talks aimed at reviving a stalled push to end the war in Ukraine, carrying what President Donald Trump described as "a proposal to end the war."apnews+1

The meeting, the first between the envoys and Putin since January, came as both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a limited pause in strikes on each other's capitals during the negotiations — a rare if narrow gesture of restraint in a conflict that has ground on for more than four years.nbcnews

A Warm Opening, a Wide Gulf

Putin opened the session by telling the envoys that "the situation is, of course, not simple," while praising Trump for persisting in mediation efforts despite the difficulty of the task. Witkoff struck a personal tone, telling Putin that the meetings they have shared "will be right at the top" of his and Kushner's memories when they retire.kurdistan24+1

But the diplomatic warmth belied deep divisions. The Kremlin reiterated on Friday that Putin's demand — that Ukraine cede the full territory of four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its bid to join NATO — was "unshakeable." Ukraine has firmly rejected those terms. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state media that "the US administration must recognize the realities regarding the Ukrainian settlement."reuters+1

Strikes Continue Even as Capitals Get a Pause

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin ordered a 72-hour halt to strikes on Kyiv starting at midnight Saturday, linked to the envoys' planned travel to the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would halt strikes on Moscow through Monday and expected the envoys in Kyiv on Sunday — their first visit there since Trump took office.aljazeera+1

The pause, however, applied only to the two capitals. Russian attacks elsewhere on Saturday killed at least seven people, including five workers at an industrial site in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Overnight, Russia launched ballistic missiles and more than 160 attack drones, and Zelensky accused Moscow of striking two airports near Kyiv to complicate the delegation's travel plans.channelnewsasia+1

What Comes Next

Trump told reporters the envoys were testing "whether or not we can get something done," adding, "We have an idea for peace," without elaborating. The Kremlin struck a more cautious note, with Peskov saying Trump himself had indicated "there are no discussions of new ideas."cnn+1

The renewed diplomacy follows months of stagnation, driven in part by Washington's focus on its conflict with Iran. A rare visit to Moscow last month by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against attacking NATO states, produced no direct talks with Putin. On the ground, front lines have remained largely static while both sides have intensified long-range strikes — Ukraine targeting Russian oil refineries and Wildberries warehouses, and Russia exploiting Ukraine's dwindling air defenses to hit a wider range of targets.nytimes+2

Sunday's visit to Kyiv will test whether either side is prepared to narrow the gap. "We are awaiting Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner," Zelensky said, "and are prepared for a meaningful dialogue."cnn