Politico: US envoys’ talks with Putin end without results

During negotiations on ending the war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin used a mix of charm, calculated manoeuvres, and outright threats to show U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Russia’s firm position on the issue, Politico reports.

According to the outlet, Steve Witkoff — special representative of U.S. President Donald Trump — and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner spent yesterday walking around Moscow and dining in an elite restaurant, while Putin kept them waiting for several hours before the meeting at the Kremlin to discuss a peace agreement on Ukraine.

“While the Americans killed time, Putin addressed the press at an investment forum where he blamed Europe for thwarting the peace process and hinted at future escalation,” the publication noted.

Journalists reported that the meeting between the Russian president and the U.S. negotiators eventually began three hours later than scheduled. The discussion on a potential peace agreement lasted five hours and ended well past midnight local time.

Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, who also attended the meeting, described the talks as “useful, constructive, and highly substantive,” but added that “a lot of work” lies ahead.

The outlet emphasised that, according to Ushakov, Putin pointed to the “destructive actions of the European side,” which signals an attempt to shift the blame for any failure to reach a peace agreement onto the European Union — even though the EU was not represented at the meeting.

Journalists noted that so far there are no signs that future negotiations will lead to any change in Moscow’s position.

By Vugar Khalilov