US envoy meets Putin

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has held talks with United States President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, the Kremlin said.

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It came days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. The meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Witkoff lasted about three hours.

Neither side gave an immediate readout of the talks.

Earlier, Mr Witkoff took an early-morning walk through Zaryadye Park, a stone's throw from the Kremlin, with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's envoy for investment and economic cooperation, footage aired by TASS showed. Mr Dmitriev said later on social platform X that "dialogue will prevail".