Trump envoy Steve Witkoff thanks Putin, calls Moscow meeting one of his ‘incredible memories’

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday, September 5, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow, for hosting him and saying that the encounter would rank among his “incredible memories.”

Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Putin for more than three hours as the administration sought to restart efforts toward a settlement of the war in Ukraine. However, the meeting ended without an announced breakthrough, with the US envoys scheduled to travel to Kyiv next to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner hold lengthy talks with Putin

Witkoff opened the meeting by thanking Putin for receiving the American delegation and referring to the experience as one he would remember.

“So first of all, President Putin, thank you so much for having us. We were sitting outside just now… and we were all talking about when we retire, we’ll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all,” Witkoff told Putin through a translator. Putin responded, “Thank you very much,” according to the Kremlin’s official transcript. 

Witkoff also conveyed Trump’s “best wishes” to Putin and thanked the Russian president on behalf of the family of US Marine Robert Gilman, who spent four years in Russian custody after being imprisoned over allegations that he assaulted a Russian police officer on a train. Gilman was released in August. “The Gilman family is incredibly indebted to you and thanks you very, very much,” Witkoff told Putin.

The meeting lasted more than three hours, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. He said Witkoff and Kushner presented several ideas concerning possible paths toward a settlement, although he did not provide details.

Ushakov said Putin told the group that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield, remained confident it would achieve its objectives, and believed any settlement would need to address what Moscow calls the “root causes” of the conflict.

However, the Kremlin did not indicate if the talks had produced a breakthrough. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was “no talk of new ideas” for ending the war. Ushakov said the discussions also covered economic issues and potential Russian-American projects, describing the talks overall as “timely and highly useful for both sides.”

Ceasefires clear path for US envoys to Kyiv

The Moscow meeting came as both Russia and Ukraine made temporary arrangements to facilitate the American delegation’s travel. Zelensky announced a ceasefire to accommodate Witkoff and Kushner’s visit, saying Ukraine would “ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace so that the negotiators can arrive safely. We are looking out for them, not for Russia.”

Putin also announced a three-day halt to strikes against Kyiv. The pause was intended to coincide with the American envoys’ planned visit to the Ukrainian capital on Sunday.

Zelensky, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said that Ukraine was prepared for the talks, writing, “The plan for tomorrow’s diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the US team, has been approved. We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine!”