U.S. envoys meet Putin in Kremlin as peace talks continue

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday, seeking to revive momentum in the stalled peace process between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting follows two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi that produced a prisoner-exchange agreement, though the exact number of detainees to be swapped has not yet been disclosed.

Kushner said the Kremlin meeting aimed to secure Russian approval for the involvement of European representatives in the negotiations, which the United States and President Zelenskyy hope will result in a single European negotiator dealing with Moscow. Moscow, however, has rejected the participation of European countries, arguing that they are financing and supplying Ukraine's war effort.

Putin reiterated Moscow's opposition to any post-war deployment of European troops in Ukraine, describing such forces as a security threat and stating they would be legitimate targets. He also referred to the Russia-Ukraine border as the line of control, echoing Moscow's claim over the four regions annexed in 2022.

President Zelenskyy is in Dublin for a summit with more than 40 European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Rutte said the United States, Europe and Ukraine are aligned on security guarantees but emphasized the need for a peace deal or at least a ceasefire. Zelenskyy welcomed the prisoner-exchange agreement but warned that Ukraine would not cede occupied territory in exchange for peace.

Fighting continues along the 1,200-kilometre front line, with Russian drone and missile strikes targeting civilian infrastructure. Ukraine reported further disruptions to the U.S. Starshield satellite service, which it uses for drone operations, citing speed restrictions imposed on drones in Russian-occupied areas. President Zelenskyy suggested the limits reflect decisions made in the United States and called for clarification from U.S. officials.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences downed 71 Ukrainian drones overnight and struck a drone-manufacturing plant and other facilities near Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian forces launched 123 drones and missiles, hitting 17 locations across the country.