Russia's Putin rules out concessions, offers Kostiantynivka truce in US talks

Detailed summary

Russia's President Putin reiterates his long-standing objection to any foreign troops being deployed to Ukraine as a post-war peacekeeping force.

President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Russia will not compromise on its position on Ukraine war objectives but has offered a short-term ceasefire in a key frontline city during a Kremlin meeting with US envoys.

Putin on Thursday told US envoys that Russia was proposing a joint Russian-Ukrainian humanitarian mission to the city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported.Putin was cited as saying that the mission could be modelled on a similar initiative that allowed residents to leave the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southeastern Ukraine at the end of last month and for aid to be brought in for those who chose to remain.Russia needed 5 days to clear the area near Kostiantynivka of mines, Putin said.

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were in Moscow after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi searching for a way to end Europe's worst conflict since World War II.

The Americans, meanwhile, urged Putin to allow European representatives to sit at the table for the next round of talks.

Witkoff also confirmed a prisoner swap agreed upon during the latest Abu Dhabi talks, saying, "It indicates progress toward peace.”

Kiev and European leaders have urged against a new "Yalta", a reference to the post-WWII deal to carve the continent into spheres of influence, and said talks must be focused on ending the Ukraine war first.

Kushner and Witkoff will travel to Dublin, where a European summit is taking place, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later on Thursday.

The Russian president rejected talk of a possible territorial settlement involving "grey," or demilitarised, zones between Ukrainian and Russian positions.

"For us, there is only one line of demarcation: the state border. Because then it will be clear: here are we, and here are you," he said.

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