Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said talks between Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff were constructive, frank and nearly four hours long.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff held nearly four hours of “constructive, substantive and frank” discussions, according to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov.

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The meeting, which began Thursday at 11:25 p.m. Moscow time and ended at 3:04 a.m. Friday, involved senior Russian and U.S. officials. On the Russian side, participants included Yuri Ushakov, presidential adviser for international affairs, and Kirill Dmitriev, presidential envoy for economic cooperation and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The U.S. delegation included Witkoff, Jared Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser—and Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Acquisition Service.

Ushakov described the talks as “useful in all respects” for both sides. He said the meeting focused on exchanging information on U.S.–Ukraine and U.S.–European contacts, as well as determining parameters for future steps. The U.S. side briefed Moscow on discussions held between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos, alongside other diplomatic exchanges concerning Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Witkoff and Kushner met Kirill Dmitriev in Davos, Switzerland, and also held talks with a Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Ushakov confirmed that a trilateral security meeting involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine will take place Friday in Abu Dhabi. The Russian delegation will be led by Igor Kostyukov, chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. A separate bilateral meeting between Dmitriev and Witkoff on economic issues is also scheduled.

On territorial matters, Ushakov stressed that “without resolving the territorial question according to the formula agreed in Anchorage, there is no point in counting on achieving a long-term solution.” He added that Moscow is “sincerely interested in resolving the Ukrainian crisis by political and diplomatic means,” but that Russian forces will continue operations until a settlement is reached.

The discussions also covered the Peace Council initiated by U.S. President Trump. Ushakov reiterated Russia’s willingness to allocate $1 billion of frozen Russian assets in the U.S. to the council’s budget, and said remaining frozen funds could be used to rebuild territories affected by fighting after a peace treaty is signed. Additionally, the talks touched on Greenland and the broader future of U.S.–Russia bilateral relations.

Ushakov noted that battlefield developments had positively influenced the tone and outcome of the discussions and emphasized the ongoing necessity of dialogue between Moscow and Washington.

Key Outcomes of the Russia–U.S. Negotiations:

• Scheduling of a trilateral security meeting in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine.Arrangement for a bilateral economic meeting between Kirill Dmitriev and Steve Witkoff.
• Confirmation that the territorial question per the Anchorage formula is central to any long-term settlement.
• Russia’s readiness to allocate $1 billion of frozen U.S. assets to the Peace Council and discuss further use for reconstruction post-peace agreement.
• Discussions included Greenland and broader U.S.–Russia relations planning.

Moscow continues to frame dialogue with Washington as essential while emphasizing that lasting resolution of the Ukrainian conflict must address underlying causes cited by Russia.

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