Efforts to end the nearly four-year-long Russia–Ukraine war have intensified, with Russian President Vladimir Putin holding late-night talks with senior envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a possible framework for peace, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday.
According to official sources, the meeting took place shortly before midnight and involved three American representatives — Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Josh Gruenbaum. Gruenbaum was recently appointed by President Trump as a senior adviser to the newly constituted Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing post-ceasefire arrangements in Gaza and facilitating resolutions to global conflicts.
The talks come amid renewed diplomatic momentum following President Trump’s recent statement that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have expressed willingness to reach an agreement. Trump made the remarks after meeting Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
The Kremlin said Putin was accompanied by his foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov and special envoy Kirill Dmitriev during the discussions. A video of the meeting was also released by Russian authorities.
Russia Signals Military Strength During Diplomacy
Even as negotiations gathered pace, Russia demonstrated its military capabilities. Shortly after the talks began, the Russian Defence Ministry announced routine patrol flights by Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft reportedly flew for over five hours, escorted by fighter jets.
These bombers have previously been used in missile strikes against Ukrainian cities, military installations, and critical energy infrastructure, underlining the complex balance between diplomacy and military pressure.
Key Sticking Points Remain
Despite U.S.-led mediation, major disagreements persist between Moscow and Kyiv. The most contentious issue remains territorial control. Russia has demanded that Ukraine relinquish control over approximately 20 percent of eastern Donetsk, a demand firmly rejected by President Zelenskyy.
Russia has also insisted that Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join NATO and has categorically opposed the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil after the war.
President Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the conflict, recently stated that failure by Putin and Zelenskyy to reach a deal would be “foolish.” While Trump has claimed to have ended eight conflicts in the first year of his second term, he has acknowledged that the Russia–Ukraine war has proven to be his toughest diplomatic challenge.
First-Ever Trilateral Talks in Abu Dhabi
Earlier this week, Witkoff and Kushner met Ukrainian officials in Davos. Zelenskyy later announced that security guarantees for Ukraine have been finalized, though the territorial dispute remains unresolved.
Significantly, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are set to hold their first-ever trilateral meeting today in Abu Dhabi, where representatives from all three nations will sit across the table in a critical attempt to chart a path toward ending the war.
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