Brian McDonald@BrianMcDonaldIE
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov gave a *very upbeat* late-night readout of Vladimir Putin’s talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff's delegation. A meeting that ended after 3am Moscow time. It's usual to hear this kind of tone from Putin's team (my translation):
"A meeting took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with [Trump's son-in-law] Jared Kushner and Joshua Greenbaum. Greenbaum is a senior White House adviser focused on economic issues, and this was the first time he joined the American team.
"The talks lasted about four hours, and the atmosphere was very positive. [It was] constructive, open, and unusually frank. I’d even say it was a very trusting conversation.
"As you know, the Americans came straight from Davos. Right up until boarding the plane for Moscow they were attending events alongside President Donald Trump, including meetings connected to the Ukraine settlement.
"They shared their fresh impressions first-hand, especially about Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Zelensky in Davos. Which both Witkoff and Kushner attended personally. We also discussed other contacts they had in December and January. including in Mar-a-Lago in Florida and in several European capitals.
"In general, the main purpose of today’s Kremlin meeting was to get a clear picture of what the Americans learned from their talks with the Ukrainians and the [Western] Europeans. And then, together, to agree the parameters for what happens next.
"That next step has now been agreed.
"It was decided that already today, Friday, 23 January [he said November, but meant January], the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security will take place in Abu Dhabi. "Trilateral" means Russia, the US, and Ukraine.
"At the same time, also in Abu Dhabi, the heads of a separate bilateral economic group will meet, that’s Russia and the US only. [Kremlin aide Kirill] Dmitriev will take part, and so will Steve Witkoff.
"Our security delegation is already formed and will fly to the UAE in the next few hours. It includes senior Defence Ministry figures and is headed by Admiral [Igor] Kostyukov, the chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff [the GRU].
"And I can tell you: the delegation has just received direct instructions from President Putin, based on the details of today’s talks.
"The key point reaffirmed today is this: without resolving the territorial issue, on the basis of the Anchorage formula [where Putin and Trump met in August], there is no point expecting a lasting settlement.
"President Putin again stressed that Russia is genuinely interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis through political and diplomatic means.
"But until that happens, Russia will continue to pursue the goals of the "special military operation" on the battlefield. Where, as he put it, the Russian armed forces currently hold the strategic initiative.
"They also discussed Trump’s idea of creating a "Board of Peace," a number of regional issues, and the Greenland situation.
"On the Board of Peace specifically, Russia again said it would be ready to direct $1 billion into the structure. [To be taken] from Russian assets that were frozen under the previous US administration.
"The remaining frozen funds, Russia suggested, could later be used to rebuild territories affected by the fighting. After a peace treaty is signed between Russia and Ukraine.
"That topic will continue to be discussed in the bilateral economic working group.
"I want to stress as well: future Russia–US relations were discussed in a constructive spirit. The assumption on both sides is that there’s huge potential for cooperation across many areas.
"The Americans are already thinking about projects that could be launched once the Ukraine settlement is reached.
"They also put major effort into preparing today’s trilateral security format, and they hope the Abu Dhabi meeting will go well. And will open a path toward progress on the entire package of issues tied to ending the conflict and achieving a negotiated peace.
"To sum it up: the Kremlin meeting that just ended was useful in every sense, for both Russia and the US.
"And both sides agreed to stay in close contact going forward. Not only on Ukraine, but on other issues as well."
