Trump Envoy Meets Putin After 8 Months, Raising Hopes for Ukraine Peace Talks

US President Trump's special envoy met with Russian President Putin for the first time in eight months, raising expectations for a resumption of Ukraine war peace talks. The meeting occurred as international attention had shifted to the Iran conflict. The talks in Moscow lasted about three hours and included Trump's son-in-law Kushner. Russia called the discussions "very beneficial," while the White House said they discussed a "substantive plan" for next steps to be announced within weeks. The envoys were scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv the following day. Both sides agreed to a three-day pause in attacks on Moscow and Kyiv during the visit. The US delegation included a Treasury sanctions official, suggesting sanctions relief was discussed. Russia has demanded sanctions removal, which the US has refused. The meeting follows recent high-level contacts between the two countries.