MOSCOW — The Kremlin announced Friday that its positions with Washington have moved closer on resolving the war in Ukraine, following a three-hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy and point man for peace negotiations.
The two men met in Moscow on Thursday, their third extended session since Trump designated Witkoff to spearhead diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war, now in its fourth year. Russian state media released footage showing Putin and Witkoff exchanging pleasantries and handshakes before beginning closed-door discussions at the Kremlin.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, who participated in the meeting, described the dialogue as “constructive and very useful,” emphasizing the potential for renewed diplomacy.
“This conversation allowed Russia and the United States to further bring their positions closer together, not only on Ukraine but also on a number of other international issues,” Ushakov said in a briefing. “As for the Ukrainian crisis itself, the discussion focused in particular on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.”
No formal talks between Russia and Ukraine have occurred since the early weeks of the conflict, which erupted after Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Witkoff’s visit came amid growing diplomatic friction. Ukrainian and European officials have expressed resistance to aspects of Washington’s evolving proposals, particularly elements that suggest concessions to Moscow, including recognition of its hold over Crimea.
President Trump, however, took to his Truth Social platform shortly after the Kremlin meeting, characterizing the moment as a potential breakthrough. “They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off,’” he wrote, adding that “most of the major points are agreed to.”
Trump has repeatedly pressed for a rapid resolution to the war and has warned that the U.S. could abandon the diplomatic process if progress stalls. “I won’t be happy, let me put it that way. Things will happen,” he told reporters Thursday when asked about Russia’s stance.
Following a deadly Russian missile barrage that killed 12 civilians in Kyiv the same day, Trump posted a blunt message to Putin on social media: “Vladimir, STOP! Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Russia, meanwhile, has signaled cautious openness to an agreement. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the government is “ready to reach a deal” but stressed the need to resolve certain outstanding “specific points.” He told CBS News that both sides are continuing to fine-tune those areas.
Among the more controversial proposals under consideration is the idea of freezing the front lines and acknowledging Russian control over Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Trump was quoted in a TIME magazine interview published Friday as saying, “Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelenskyy understands that.”
Ukraine’s government, however, has categorically rejected ceding any territory. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that Kyiv’s position remains unchanged. “The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories … belong to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters in the capital Friday.
The path to peace remains uncertain as competing visions for a settlement continue to clash. But the Kremlin’s remarks about progress—coupled with Trump’s assertive push—suggest both sides are testing the boundaries of a possible endgame.
