The talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the special envoy of the US President Steven Witkoff in Moscow were meaningful and useful, Kremlin representative Yuri Ushakov reported, quoted by RIA Novosti.
„The talks lasted about four hours and were extremely meaningful, constructive and, I would say, extremely frank and confidential.“
Advisor to the Russian President Yuri Ushakov answered questions from journalists during a press conference after the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the special envoy of the US President Steven Witkoff.
The meeting began at 23:25 Moscow time. It was held in the Representative Office located in the Senate Palace. Also participating were Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov, Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Federal Procurement Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum.
The conversation lasted almost four hours. The parties agreed to continue to maintain close contacts on both Ukraine and other topics.
US representatives are already formulating specific plans that could be implemented after the conflict is resolved.
“I would like to specially note that the issues of further development of bilateral Russian-American relations were discussed conceptually, proceeding from the fact that our countries have a huge potential for cooperation in a wide range of areas.“
The parties touched upon the creation of the Gaza Peace Council and the situation around Greenland.
Witkoff and Kushner shared their impressions of their meetings in Davos.
The day before, Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Switzerland. The talks lasted less than an hour. The US president called them good and said that the dialogue on the peace process is continuing.
Russia and the United States have agreed that the first meeting of the trilateral working group on security issues will be held in Abu Dhabi on Friday, with the participation of representatives of both countries and Ukraine.
Moscow representatives will fly to the UAE in the coming hours; they have received specific instructions from the president.
The security working group includes representatives of the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff.
"The United States has done a lot to prepare for the trilateral talks and expects them to be successful. "Most importantly, during these talks between our president and the Americans, it was reiterated that without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed upon in Anchorage, there is no hope of reaching a long-term agreement," Ushakov said.
At the meeting, the Russian side emphasized that Russia holds the strategic initiative on the battlefield, and a diplomatic agreement has so far proven impossible, despite Moscow's interest. It was declared that Russia will continue to consistently pursue its goals in the Special Military Operation.
The heads of the group on bilateral economic issues, Kirill Dmitriev and Stephen Witkoff, will also meet in Abu Dhabi. They will discuss frozen Russian assets.
During the talks in the Kremlin, Russia stressed its readiness to send one billion dollars to the Gaza Peace Council.
“The remaining funds from our frozen reserves in the United States can be used to restore territories damaged during the fighting, after the conclusion of a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine,“ Putin suggests.