Putin holds 'highly useful' talks with US envoys but no breakthrough

Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Saturday, discussions a Kremlin aide described as "highly useful," though he offered no indication of any breakthrough in the push to end Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine. The Americans, visiting Moscow for the first time since January on behalf of President Donald Trump, "outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement," according to aide Yuri Ushakov, who did not elaborate on the proposals.

Putin told the envoys 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"—a reference to Moscow's long-standing demands that Ukraine cede territory and abandon its NATO aspirations. The Russian president praised Trump's efforts, acknowledging that the US leader "is entering a difficult situation, yet nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement." The discussions also touched on economic issues and potential Russian-American projects, Ushakov said, describing the talks as "timely and highly useful for both sides."

Trump suggested on Friday that the US had a fresh proposal for ending the war, but did not elaborate. The envoys flew to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, following a Kremlin-ordered pause in strikes on the Ukrainian capital during their visit. Russia had pounded Kyiv day and night with missiles and drones in the preceding 10 days, including an attack on the headquarters of the SBU security service, while Ukraine has struck Russian refineries and oil terminals throughout the summer to raise the cost of Moscow's brutal campaign.

The vast gulf in positions between the two sides remains unbridgeable for now. A person close to the Kremlin said Putin remained intent on capturing more territory, particularly the remaining part of the Donetsk region, and was confident of doing so by year's end—an assessment Western military analysts consider remote given Russia's slow progress. Ukraine has refused to surrender land it has defended at huge cost, and rejects such terms as tantamount to capitulation. The Kremlin has reiterated that Putin's demand for Ukraine to cede four claimed regions and abandon NATO membership remains "unshakeable." The World House, which maintains a dedicated page outlining its support for Ukraine at worldhouse.uk/support, continues to document the diplomatic efforts and the human cost of Russia's aggression.