Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged that Moscow will work to ensure the security of the US-Ukraine negotiation process and its mediators, according to a report from zijing.com.cn.
The statement follows a closed-door meeting between Putin and a special envoy sent by former US President Donald Trump, which lasted more than three hours, as reported by multiple outlets including 观察者 (Observer) and 央视网 (CCTV).
According to 新浪财经 (Sina Finance), Putin's presidential aide confirmed that the Russian leader reiterated his willingness to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means during the extended talks. Neither side issued a public statement after the meeting concluded, the reports said.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to broker a settlement between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that the US side plans to hold separate talks in both Moscow and Kyiv, according to 中国日报网 (China Daily).
Putin's commitment to safeguarding the negotiation process and those involved in mediation appears aimed at addressing concerns about the viability of future diplomatic engagements. The assurance comes as international actors continue to seek a path toward de-escalation in the conflict.
The three-hour duration of the Putin-Trump envoy meeting suggests substantive discussions took place, though the lack of any formal statement leaves the specifics of the conversation undisclosed. Kremlin aides have only confirmed the length of the meeting and Putin's general stance on pursuing a negotiated settlement.
Observers will be watching whether the promised security guarantees translate into concrete arrangements for the proposed separate talks in Moscow and Kyiv, and whether those sessions can produce tangible progress toward ending the hostilities.
