US-Russia talks yield no breakthrough in Ukraine war negotiations

US-Russia talks in Moscow on ending the war in Ukraine were described as constructive, but no breakthrough is indicated. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the discussions "extremely candid" after the meeting. Putin reiterated Russia's "success" on the battlefield and its unchanged goals, emphasizing the need to eliminate the conflict's "root causes," according to state media Tass. The White House said "concrete plans for next steps" were discussed and will be announced in coming weeks. Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory and claims several eastern regions. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travel to Kyiv on Sunday for their first talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said his team is "ready for substantive conversations."