Witkoff told Putin that US president Donald Trump had sent his best wishes, and thanked Putin

Putin holds Kremlin talks with Witkoff, Kushner

Witkoff told Putin that US president Donald Trump had sent his best wishes, and thanked Putin for the ceasefire announced during their visit.

Putin said Russia would “do our utmost to provide safety of the negotiators” and told Witkoff and Kushner that “it’s convenient for us to work with you. Putin also said that “such contacts are always beneficial. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to halt strikes on Moscow until Monday.

The envoys’ visit came as both sides stepped up aerial attacks. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals during the talks. Russian president Vladimir Putin met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday as talks continued on efforts to revive a stalled push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He added that he spoke with the US delegation on Saturday afternoon after it arrived in Moscow.

The Russian president praised Trump’s efforts to end the 4 and a half year war in Ukraine.

“Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” ​Putin said. Trump said on Friday that the US had a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict, but did not provide further details.