Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin meets Trump envoys late into night ahead of first trilateral peace talks
Russian president Vladimir Putin has held marathon late-night talks with Donald Trump’s envoys ahead of the first trilateral peace talks over Ukraine in the UAE.
The talks in Moscow were described as “frank” and “constructive” by the Kremlin, beginning just before midnight local time and lasting nearly four hours.
That timing was an indication of the urgency of the talks before Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators are set to meet for the first time later on Friday in Abu Dhabi.
Putin told Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that “a long-term settlement can’t be expected without solving the territorial issue,” a reference to Moscow’s demand that Kyiv withdraw its troops from areas illegally annexed by Russia.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky said the trilateral talks were scheduled to last two days and involve officials at the “technical level”, adding that “Russians have to be ready for compromises, not just Ukraine”.
Zelensky also lashed out in his speech at European allies for being all talk, no action – his exasperated tone is an indication that he does not believe a ceasefire is imminent.
