Witkoff and Kushner's Moscow talks with Putin called 'substantive'

Talks between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow were described as "substantive" by both Russian aide Yuri Ushakov and a White House official. The meeting lasted over three hours. Ushakov told state media TASS that Trump's negotiators promised to consider Putin's assessments on settlement paths during talks in Kyiv. Axios reported that US National Security Council, State Department, and Treasury officials, including acting sanctions chief Gene Lange, also participated. The sides discussed concrete next steps to be announced in coming weeks. This was Witkoff and Kushner's second joint Moscow visit since January 22. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said Putin ordered a three-day pause on strikes against Kyiv starting midnight September 6, which Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed he would reciprocate regarding Moscow. Putin again emphasized the need to address the "root causes" of the conflict.