Kremlin sees ‘atmosphere of trust’ in Putin’s talks with Witkoff and Kushner
The talks that Russian President Vladimir Putin had with US President Donald Trump’s envoys on Saturday are indicative of an “atmosphere of trust” between Moscow and Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Kiev, where they are meeting with the Ukrainian leadership as part of US efforts to mediate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday, Peskov stated that “there is indeed an atmosphere of trust, at least with respect to this communication channel, [and] it is growing stronger.”
The official added that the “exchange of such greetings [between the Russian president and foreign dignitaries] is extended… when there are messages that the head of state deems necessary to convey.”
Commenting on Saturday’s negotiations between Putin and Witkoff and Kushner, which lasted over three hours and included formal discussions as well as an informal exchange over lunch, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that the “conversation was substantive, constructive, extremely candid and trusting.”
According to the Russian official, the US negotiators presented a “number of considerations regarding possible paths toward a settlement” of the Ukraine conflict.
Ushakov revealed that the Russian president and Trump’s envoys had also discussed economic cooperation and potential “major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects.” He characterized the talks as “timely and very useful for both sides,” with Putin and Trump intending to continue personal contacts as well as the diplomatic work being conducted by Witkoff and Kushner.
The Russian president earlier praised his US counterpart for his sustained efforts to end the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.
Ahead of the US negotiators’ departure for Kiev, Putin ordered a three-day hiatus in strikes on the Ukrainian capital to allow Witkoff and Kushner to safely carry out their mission.
