Kremlin: Putin’s Talks With Trump Envoys Were “Constructive” and “Extremely Candid”
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow have been described by the Kremlin as constructive, candid and useful, with discussions focusing primarily on efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the meeting, held on Saturday, lasted more than three hours and included formal negotiations as well as an informal lunch discussion.
“The conversation was substantive, constructive, extremely candid and trusting,” Ushakov told reporters following the talks.
According to the Kremlin aide, the Russian side presented a detailed assessment of developments on the battlefield and expressed confidence that Moscow would achieve its stated objectives. Putin also reiterated Russia’s position that any lasting settlement must address what Moscow considers the root causes of the conflict.
At the same time, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to continue working with Washington toward a political and diplomatic settlement, Ushakov said.
The Kremlin aide said Witkoff and Kushner had prepared extensively for their Moscow visit. The US representatives conveyed Washington’s desire to bring the hostilities to an end as soon as possible and presented several proposals concerning potential avenues toward a settlement.
The two US envoys were expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday. Ushakov said they had pledged to convey to the Ukrainian side the assessments and observations they received directly from Putin during their Moscow discussions.
Putin earlier expressed appreciation for Trump’s efforts to facilitate a resolution to the conflict, saying the US president continued to pursue a settlement despite the complexity of the situation.
The Russian president also reiterated Moscow’s commitment to refrain from carrying out strikes on Kyiv during a three-day period beginning at midnight on September 5. The measure was intended to facilitate the safe travel of the US envoys to the Ukrainian capital.
In opening remarks before the closed-door meeting, Putin said Ukraine had also significantly reduced attacks on Russian territory, including Moscow. However, he noted that Russia and Ukraine had not reached an agreement on a broader three-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv.
Economic cooperation also discussed
The discussions extended beyond the Ukraine conflict, with the Russian and US sides examining prospects for economic cooperation.
Ushakov said the two sides discussed potential “major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects” in detail, indicating that economic engagement could form part of the broader bilateral dialogue.
Putin also raised with the US envoys Ukraine’s reported plans to rebury the remains of Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists figures Andrey Melnik and Evgeny Konovalets. Ushakov described the two figures in strongly critical terms, while saying the American representatives took note of the issue.
Ushakov characterized the Moscow discussions as timely and highly useful for both sides and said direct contacts between Putin and Trump would continue.
He added that the diplomatic channel involving Witkoff and Kushner would also remain active as Washington and Moscow pursue further discussions on Ukraine and broader bilateral relations.
