Putin Meets US Envoys to Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks and Prisoner Exchanges
On November 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin met two US envoys at the Kremlin to discuss the latest Russia-US-Ukraine talks, future contacts and prisoner exchanges. The envoys hope to announce the next round of three-way talks soon. The meeting also covered European participation and humanitarian operations in Ukraine.
On November 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin met US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin. The meeting came after the latest round of three-way talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on November 11.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.（VietVance）
Putin asked the US side to assess the results of the Abu Dhabi talks, the exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and the prospects for maintaining contact. He said he hoped the United States would coordinate with its European partners on an approach to advancing peace. He also warned that deploying foreign troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement would cause fighting to resume immediately.
On humanitarian issues, Putin said Russia and Ukraine had made positive progress on prisoner-of-war exchanges and were planning the next stage. He also proposed a joint Russian-Ukrainian humanitarian operation in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka and said Russia would need five days to clear mines near the city. Russia's Interfax news agency said the operation could follow the model of a humanitarian operation carried out in Oleshky, southeastern Ukraine, in late October.
Witkoff described the Abu Dhabi talks as positive, saying the Russian and Ukrainian delegations had engaged in substantive, constructive exchanges. He said Trump considered ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible an important priority. Witkoff hoped the meeting would help bring about an early announcement of the next round of three-way contacts, with representatives of European countries also able to participate. Kushner said the United States had noted that European countries wanted to join the negotiation process.
After their visit to Russia, the two US envoys are expected to travel to Kyiv to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the outcome of their meeting with Putin in Moscow.
Source: VietVance
