Putin held late-night talks on Thursday with Trump envoys discussing Ukraine and diplomatic steps in talks described as “based on trust.”
Night Talks at the Kremlin
Late-night talks took place at the Kremlin. The meeting with Vladimir Putin on Thursday evening, January 22, included U.S. President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a key advisor to Donald Trump and his son-in-law. According to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, the talks lasted about four hours and mainly focused on the war in Ukraine and further diplomatic steps. – They were extremely substantive, constructive, frank and based on trust – Ushakov reported. He avoided providing details.
No Peace Without Resolving Territorial Issues
According to Russian authorities, the key topic was the future of Ukraine. Ushakov stated that Moscow maintains its position on borders. – Without resolving territorial issues in accordance with the previously agreed formula in Anchorage, there can be no permanent agreement – he declared. At the same time, he assured that Russia is interested in resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means, though – as he added – until then it will continue military actions.
USA-Russia-Ukraine Tripartite Meeting in Abu Dhabi
One of the few specifics after the talks was the announcement of further negotiations. The Kremlin confirmed that on Friday, January 23, the first meeting of the USA-Russia-Ukraine tripartite working group, focusing on security issues, will take place in Abu Dhabi. The Russian delegation will be led by Igor Kostyukov, head of military intelligence. Simultaneously, Russian-American talks regarding economic affairs are also planned.
New Face in US Delegation. Who is Josh Gruenbaum?
Although Kremlin statements were sparing, commentators noted the composition of the U.S. delegation. Josh Gruenbaum – White House advisor and head of the Federal Acquisition Service in the U.S. administration – participated in high-level talks for the first time. Gruenbaum has recently also served as an advisor to the newly established Peace Council by Donald Trump – an international initiative that will address global conflicts, including the situation in the Gaza Strip. According to the Kremlin, his presence was related to talks about future economic cooperation and potential Russian involvement in Peace Council projects, including proposals to use some Russian assets previously frozen by the U.S.