Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that his talks with U.S. envoys Steve Whitkov and Jared Kushner will cover "all components and aspects" of the conflict in Ukraine as Washington steps up its mediation efforts between Moscow and Kyiv.
At the start of their meeting at the Kremlin, Putin stated, "We will discuss today all components of the conflict and all its aspects. We, on our part, are ready to share with you our perspective on the situation."
This meeting marks the sixth of its kind between the Russian president and the American envoys, who arrived in Moscow on Saturday, with plans to head to Kyiv later as part of the American efforts to advance settlement efforts.
Putin emphasized that communications of this type "always benefit," highlighting the importance of sustained dialogue amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the war.
Praise for Trump's Efforts
The Russian President praised the efforts of his American counterpart, Donald Trump, towards reaching a settlement of the conflict.
Putin remarked, "I understand he is generally in a difficult position, yet he does not cease his attempts to mediate and contribute to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict."
He also expressed satisfaction with Moscow's interactions with Whitkov and Kushner, asserting a high level of trust in communications with them.
He added that "the quality of mediation and trust in the practitioners" are two crucial factors in the negotiation process.
Ceasing Strikes on Kyiv
The Moscow talks aligned with an announcement to halt Russian airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, for three days starting midnight Saturday.
According to the Kremlin, Putin directed an end to the strikes in conjunction with the communications the U.S. envoys will pursue in Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the Ukrainian side has been informed of the move.
Whitkov and Kushner's visit to Moscow, and their anticipated travel to Kyiv, come as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to narrow the gap between the parties and seek common ground to drive the conflict's settlement process forward.