Putin meeting with US envoys: Key points from opening exchanges
Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow, following two days of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi.
Presidential aides Vladimir Medinsky and Yury Ushakov, along with Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, also attended the meeting. RT details the opening exchanges between the two sides, before the talks entered the closed session.
What did Putin tell Witkoff and Kushner?
Putin opened the discussions by asking the US envoys to convey his thanks to President Donald Trump for organizing contact between Russia and Ukraine, noting the progress on humanitarian issues, TASS reported. Witkoff said the forthcoming prisoner exchange demonstrated progress toward a settlement.
Building on these humanitarian efforts, Putin proposed a mission to evacuate civilians from Konstantinovka, modeled on the recent operation in Alyoshki. He suggested that the Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners organize it.
Putin said Russian forces control Konstantinovka and could ensure the mission’s safety, but would need five days to clear mines in the area. If Kiev maintains that it controls the city, it should guarantee security from its side, he added.
What did Putin say about terms of settlement?
Turning to the terms of a settlement, Putin said he wants peace in Ukraine to last forever. He added that Russia recognizes only one dividing line with Ukraine – the national border – and is aware of Ukrainian discussions about “gray zones.” He also dismissed outright the possible deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine and warned that they would be considered legitimate targets.
The 'Europe' question
The discussion also touched on the role of Kiev's Western European backers in a peace process. Witkoff said European representatives were not at the negotiating table in Abu Dhabi but were briefed on the talks.
Kushner said European governments expressed a desire to take part in negotiations and end the conflict, adding that Washington has begun discussing the continent’s security arrangements with them.
European representatives remained outside the trilateral meetings, consulting separately with the US and Ukrainian teams. Kushner has argued that the Europeans must be involved in the process, while suggesting that they should select a single representative.
Ushakov said on Thursday that Europe has yet to agree on a suitable negotiator. Moscow has stated that it is willing to consider concrete European peace proposals but has received none.
The US envoys arrived in Moscow on Thursday morning and were met at Vnukovo Airport by Dmitriev. Asked about their mood, he described it as positive.
The visit follows the first formal trilateral negotiations since February. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky said European security was the central theme of the Abu Dhabi talks, and that the parties found common ground on some issues while differences remain on others.
What was said about troops and territory?
Medinsky also announced an agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner exchange. Kushner and Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed the agreement. The US envoy said the numbers will be finalized on Thursday.
Territory remains a major obstacle. Medinsky told RT that “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, one way or another.” Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, however, has rejected the idea of withdrawing Ukrainian forces from Donbass. Kushner described the territorial question as the hardest issue to resolve.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Putin would explain Russia’s position to the US envoys, after which Washington’s task will be to bring its European partners to their senses. He accused European governments of showing no willingness to exercise common sense while recklessly supporting Kiev.
Kushner previously said he and Witkoff would travel to Dublin after their trip to Moscow to brief Zelensky.
