Russia and US discuss possibility of direct negotiations with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) receives US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, April 11, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/VNA)

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said on April 25 that the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the day took place in a constructive atmosphere and helped narrow differences between Moscow and Washington.

Notably, the two sides also discussed the possibility of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr. Ushakov said one of the topics discussed at the three-hour meeting on April 25 was the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

Besides, the Kremlin official affirmed: "The exchange helped narrow the positions of Russia and the US not only on the Ukraine issue, but also on a number of other international issues."

Mr. Ushakov also emphasized that "effective Russian-American dialogue at many levels will continue to be promoted in the most active way."

Special envoy Witkoff has become the main US interlocutor with President Putin as Mr Trump pushes for a deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Before his latest trip to Moscow, the US Special Presidential Envoy had three lengthy meetings with the Kremlin leader.

Also on April 25, President Trump announced that he did not rule out the possibility that he would meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Italy to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

Asked by reporters before leaving the White House for Italy whether he planned to meet with the Ukrainian leader in Rome, President Trump said: “It could happen.”

Earlier, President Trump said he planned to meet with leaders of many countries in Rome to discuss trade and many other issues.

In another related move, La Repubblica newspaper reported on April 24 that Ukraine has contacted Italy and other European Union (EU) allies to propose holding a summit on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Rome on the occasion of world leaders gathering there for the funeral of Pope Francis.