Putin Holds Lengthy Talks with Trump Advisers on Ukraine Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with two key foreign policy advisers to former U.S. President Donald Trump in Moscow on Thursday. The discussions, which focused on potential paths to end the war in Ukraine, lasted approximately five hours. A Kremlin statement characterized the negotiations as "productive." The talks included former U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and Trump-era Special Representative for International Negotiations, Richard Grenell. The meeting occurs during a period of heightened international diplomacy concerning Ukraine. It underscores the continued involvement of figures associated with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in high-stakes foreign policy. Ukrainian officials were not involved in these direct discussions. The Ukrainian government has consistently stated that any peace process must respect its territorial integrity and involve its direct participation.