Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (L) during a meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 11, 2025. /VCG

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday met with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg for talks on the Ukraine conflict.

The Kremlin said the meeting focused on "various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement," without elaborating.

The talks were held behind closed doors, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier. He said the two sides would exchange views on the Ukraine issue, but no breakthrough was expected in the talks.

Before meeting with Putin, Witkoff held talks with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries. Dmitriev later said that talks with Witkoff were "productive."

According to Russian news agency, TASS, Witkoff arrived in Russia on a business visit Friday morning and departed St. Petersburg late in the evening.

Source: CGTN