Charles Mains

The most immediate outcome of the talks is more talks.

Russia agreed to take part in a trilateral meeting with military representatives from the U.S.

and Ukraine in the United Arab Emirates.

And while Kremlin officials described the meeting with Witkow and Kushner in glowing terms, there was no immediate progress towards ending the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin aide Yuriy Shchekhov said a durable peace would not be possible until territorial issues were resolved.

Russian shorthand for demands that Ukraine cede land claimed but not controlled by Moscow.

Yurchikov added that until then, Russia would continue to pursue its military objectives on the battlefield.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Witkoff's meeting with Putin, adding Russia was eager to learn about recent U.S.

negotiations with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Those talks focused on security guarantees and territorial issues, both seen as critical to advancing any lasting peace deal.

What costs meeting with Putin comes on the heels of talks with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

It also follows weeks of Russian bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, attacks that have prompted charges of the Kremlin weaponizing winter, with hundreds of thousands left without heat or power in sub-zero temperatures.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

According to the Kremlin, Putin spoke first with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the Kremlin leader said he was in favor of diplomatic efforts to ensure stability in Iran and the wider region.

A Kremlin readout of a subsequent call between Putin and Iranian President Massoud Pereshkian said both men supported de-escalating tensions through diplomatic means.

The statement made no direct reference to the U.S.

or recent threats by President Trump to launch military strikes against Tehran over its suppression of the protests,

Yet Russia has an overt interest in preserving the Iranian regime, which has supported the Kremlin's own military campaign in Ukraine with the sales of missiles and drones.