President Trump said on Wednesday that his adviser Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had "a very good" meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Why it matters: His remarks were the first public comment by the U.S. about the five-hour meeting at the Kremlin on Tuesday, which focused on Trump's plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
- It was not immediately clear what progress, if any, had been made. Putin's aides claimed no compromise has been reached on the main sticking point around Russia's territorial demands.
What he's saying: Trump told reporters in the White House Oval Office on Wednesday that Witkoff and Kushner had "a reasonably good" meeting with Putin, but later said the discussions were "very good."
- Their impression was that Putin would "like to see the war ended. ... Their impression was very strongly that he wants to make a deal," Trump said. But he stressed he didn't know if a deal was possible.
State of play: Witkoff and Kushner called Trump from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday night to brief him on the meeting with Putin.
- Witkoff spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's national security adviser Rustem Umerov on Wednesday and briefed him on the talks with Putin, Ukrainian officials said.
- The officials said Umerov was expected to travel to Miami to meet Witkoff and Kushner in person on Thursday to continue the negotiations.
- "We're preparing meetings in the U.S., and Rustem Umerov will continue discussions with envoys of President Trump," Zelensky said on Wednesday.
- "A dignified peace is only possible if Ukraine's interests are taken into account. Current diplomatic activity in negotiations must be backed by pressure on Russia."
