Vladimir Putin has suspended strikes on Kyiv as he met White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for “useful” Ukraine peace talks.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed the Russian leader greeting Donald Trump’s top negotiators, saying he would explain “how we see the situation”.
Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on social media Ukraine would reciprocate the airstrike ceasefire on Moscow.
On Friday, the President said the envoys would bring “a proposal to end the war” to discuss – efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by Washington have, so far, have failed.
Mr Kushner and Mr Witkoff will now head to Kyiv for talks with the Ukrainian President and his team.
Mr Putin told the US envoys in front of reporters the ongoing situation was “not so easy”, adding that “whatever happens, such contacts are undoubtedly always useful”.
Business executive Mr Witkoff told the former KGB officer when the US envoys retire, “we’ll have all these incredible stories and memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all”.
Talks continued behind closed doors for around three hours, according to the Kremlin, but there was no indication of any breakthrough in peace.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the envoys presented a “number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement”, but did not specify what the plans were.
Mr Putin used the meeting to explain how Russia had made “real progress” on the frontlines and was confident of achieving its goals, Mr Ushakov added.
“The talks went beyond a mere exchange of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” he said. “Economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in some detail.”
He added: “Overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides.”
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The President of Ukraine said his team was not prepared to meet with both men for a “substantive conversation” as he gave an update on his country’s military.
He said: “Today, I also received reports from Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi on the situation at the front, the dynamics of threats in Ukraine’s airspace, our steps, and active defensive operations.
“I am grateful to every one of our warriors for effectively defending Ukraine’s positions.
“On the diplomatic track, our actions must be, and will be, just as strong and effective – one hundred percent.”
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil were “reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport”.
Washington has not yet commented on the meeting and it is unclear how they travelled from Moscow to Ukraine.
Both sides have exchanged strikes throughout the summer – including an attack on the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine targeting a room used by security chief Oleksandr Poklad, according to Mr Zelensky.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has increasingly focused strikes on industrial targets within Russia, including warehouses belonging to Amazon-equivalent Wildberries.
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