U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a three-hour meeting described as "useful and constructive" by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, as a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine approaches.
The talks, held in Moscow, focused on the ongoing 3-1/2-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Both sides exchanged "signals" on the Ukraine issue, with discussions touching on potential strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington.
No immediate details were disclosed, pending Witkoff’s report to Trump.
Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on nations purchasing Russian exports, particularly targeting major buyers like India and China, if Russia fails to advance peace efforts by the deadline.
The Kremlin has called such threats illegal but has not clarified what concessions, if any, it might offer to avoid sanctions.
A proposed moratorium on air strikes by both Russia and Ukraine, recently floated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, was reportedly discussed, though it falls short of the full ceasefire sought by Ukraine and the U.S.
Russian sources indicate Putin remains skeptical of the impact of additional U.S. sanctions, prioritizing military objectives over improved U.S. relations.
Despite resumed peace talks since May, Russia’s intensified air attacks, including a deadly strike in Kyiv killing 72, have complicated negotiations.
Ukraine continues to target Russian refineries and energy infrastructure, while a recent Russian attack on a Ukrainian gas pumping station was labeled a deliberate blow to winter preparations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a full ceasefire and a leaders’ summit, stating the war’s end depends on Russia’s actions.
With Putin’s conditions — such as Ukrainian neutrality and NATO’s non-expansion — unacceptable to Kyiv, and Ukraine’s refusal to cede territorial gains, expectations for a resolution by the deadline remain low.
Analyst Gerhard Mangott described the talks as a "last-ditch effort" unlikely to yield compromise, highlighting the entrenched positions of both sides.