Putin's talks with US envoys constructive: Kremlin

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin had substantive, constructive and extremely frank talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in a trusting atmosphere in Moscow, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Sunday.

Ushakov said the discussion on extremely serious issues took place in a working-format setting and informally over dinner.

Putin reaffirmed Russia's readiness to continue joint work with the United States in search of political and diplomatic solutions to the Ukrainian issues.

Ushakov said the Russian side provided clear and comprehensive assessments of the situation unfolding amid the special military operation.

"In particular, note was taken of the real advances made by the Russian army within the combat zone, confidence was expressed in achieving the stated objectives, and the need to eliminate all root causes of the conflict was emphasized," he noted.

The talks were not confined to an exchange of views on resolving the Ukraine crisis. Economic matters and potential large-scale, mutually beneficial Russian-US projects were also discussed in considerable detail, Ushakov said.

Overall, the negotiations can be described as timely and highly beneficial for both sides. It was confirmed that the heads of state of the two countries will maintain personal contact going forward, and that work through Witkoff and Kushner will continue.

The conversation lasted three hours and 10 minutes.

Ushakov said the US envoys pledged that during their upcoming contacts in Kyiv, they would relay observations and assessments they had received directly from the Russian president regarding reaching a durable peaceful settlement to the Ukraine conflict.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Ukraine is ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against the Russian cities involved in the negotiation process.

"From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow," Zelensky said on X after a phone conversation with Witkoff and Kushner.

Ukraine is expecting Russia to take similar steps regarding Kyiv, he said.

Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for their first visit to the Ukrainian capital.

XINHUA-AGENCIES