Putin calls Ukraine situation ‘complicated’ while praising Trump’s peace efforts

The meeting took place in the Kremlin on Sept. 5 and lasted about three hours.

At the start of the talks, Putin said Trump continued trying to achieve a settlement despite the complexity of the situation.

Afterward, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov claimed Witkoff and Kushner had promised to take Putin’s assessments of possible ways to end the war into account during their upcoming contacts in Kyiv.

The Kremlin described the meeting as “substantive” and “frank” and said it had taken place in an atmosphere of trust.

At the same time, a person close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin still expects Russia to seize more Ukrainian territory.

Moscow is not prepared to accept the current front line until Russian forces attempt to take control of the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk Oblast, the source said.

The person also claimed the Kremlin believes Russia can achieve that objective by the end of 2026.

Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Moscow as part of a renewed effort by the Trump administration to advance negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

After their Moscow visit, the U.S. representatives are expected to hold talks with the Ukrainian side in Kyiv.