Charles Mains

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place, such a lovely place, such a lovely place

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.

Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

In recent days, Putin has touted new Russian battlefield gains, saying they opened the way for further advances this winter.

His latest comments, delivered to Indian media ahead of a visit to New Delhi, continued in that vein.

Putin said Russia would take the Donbass by force of arms if Ukrainian troops didn't pull back.

Kiev has rejected that demand, which includes lands claimed but not controlled by Russia despite more than three years of war.

Putin also offered comments on this week's meeting with White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis.

Putin noted he did not agree with several proposals in a U.S.