Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff have been described by the Kremlin as constructive, unusually frank and beneficial to both sides. The discussions, held late on Thursday, lasted more than three and a half hours and focused primarily on prospects for peace in Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, the meeting marked the seventh face-to-face exchange between Putin and Witkoff on the issue. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the dialogue was open and practical, allowing both Moscow and Washington to clearly outline their positions. He was joined at the talks by presidential special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, while the U.S. delegation included President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House official Josh Gruenbaum.
The agenda also covered Washington’s invitation for Russia to take part in Trump’s newly proposed “Board of Peace”, as well as the future of Russian assets frozen in the United States. Trump formally unveiled the initiative on Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos, presenting it as a new platform for addressing global conflicts.
The proposal has prompted concern internationally, with critics warning it could weaken the role of the United Nations and existing multilateral peace mechanisms. Several major powers and long-standing U.S. allies have already declined to participate. Under the current plan, Trump would act as the board’s first chairman, potentially for life, with permanent members required to contribute one billion U.S. dollars each to fund its operations.
