Few compromises as Putin meets with US envoys
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Jared Kushner—son-in-law of US President Donald Trump—at the Kremlin, the seat of Russian power. In the center is Trump’s other envoy, businessman Steve Witkoff. Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik/Kremlin via AP/TT
A new humanitarian initiative—similar to the limited ceasefire in Oleshky—and a firm "no" to Western soldiers in Ukraine.
This was reportedly the message delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a meeting in Moscow on Thursday.
Putin reportedly told the American envoys that any foreign forces participating in a potential post-war peace mission would be considered "legitimate targets." Such a peacekeeping force has been one of Ukraine’s demands for a future peace agreement. Furthermore, Putin indicated he was not prepared to budge on Russia’s territorial demands.
The Russian president also reportedly proposed the evacuation of civilians from Kostiantynivka, near the front line in the Donetsk region—a limited ceasefire similar to the one recently implemented in Russian-occupied Oleshky.
"There are about 400 to 500 civilians there," Putin reportedly told the two American envoys.
Rainy Moscow
According to AFP, Witkoff and Kushner, in turn, urged Putin to allow Europe to participate in the ongoing peace negotiations. Otherwise, few details from the meeting have been made public so far.
The American envoys arrived in Russia early on Thursday. Images posted on X showed Witkoff and Kushner being welcomed to a rainy Moscow by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian state investment fund and Putin’s special envoy for economic cooperation.
Onward to Zelenskyy
The visit was intended to brief Putin on this week’s negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi. On Wednesday, Kushner claimed that there were “openings and opportunities” to discuss with Putin.
The Americans are now expected to travel on to Ireland for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is in Dublin for a summit of the European Political Community (EPC).
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy stated that he hopes Witkoff and Kushner will bring back “in-depth details” from their visit to Russia.
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