Putin agrees with Trump peace deal 'philosophy', says Witkoff

Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said yesterday that he expected the US president to speak with Vladimir Putin this week and that the Russian president "accepts the philosophy" of Trump's ceasefire and peace terms.

- Edward Helmore New York Shaun Walker Kyiv Angelique Chrisafis Paris

Witkoff told CNN that discussions with Putin over several hours last week were "positive" and "solution-based". He declined to confirm when asked whether Putin's demands included the surrender of Ukrainian forces in Kursk, international recognition of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia as Russian, limits on Ukraine's ability to mobilise, a halt to western military aid and a ban on foreign peacekeepers.

Putin said on Thursday that he supported a truce but outlined numerous details that need to be negotiated before the deal can be completed.

The Russian president said he was open to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the US but offered vague terms for his support, raising questions about what the Kremlin wants.

Witkoff declined to describe Russian terms. He said US envoys "had narrowed the differences" between Ukraine and Russian negotiators, and he would meet Trump on Sunday to discuss "how to narrow the differences even further".

The discussions, Witkoff added, included Ukraine, Russia and European stakeholder countries including France, Britain, Norway and Finland, as well as other elements "that would be encompassed in a ceasefire".