Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff, a special show by Ukraine in St. Petersburg, to hold talks on the Ukrainian conflict.
The Kremlin said the focus of the meeting was “all aspects of Ukrainian settlements” without elaboration.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously said the negotiations were held behind closed doors. He said the two sides will exchange views on the Ukraine issue, but the talks are not expected to break through.
Prior to the meeting with Putin, Witkoff held talks with Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Russian Special Envoy for Economic Cooperation. Dmitriev later said that the talks with Witkoff were “productive”.
Witkoff arrived in Russia on Friday morning during a business visit and left St. Petersburg that night, according to Russian news agency Tass.
Earlier, the Russian Consulate in Istanbul said progress was made in ensuring banking and financial services for Russian and U.S. diplomatic missions.
Delegations from both countries “exchanged diplomatic notes to formally reach agreed commitments. These commitments were intended to promote unhindered banking and financial services for Russian and U.S. diplomatic missions, in addition to ensuring the Russian Federation’s contribution to the budgets of the United Nations and other international organizations,” the consul said in a press release.
The consulate said the two sides “agree to develop a roadmap” indicating that six diplomatic real estate confiscated and legally owned by Russia were returned.
