Friendship that grew out of war. Kremlin advisor: Putin and Witkoff understand each other without words

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Friday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin and American envoy Steve Witkoff had reached the kind of understanding that made their discussions “truly friendly.”

Ushakov also said that the inclusion of Jared Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, in Tuesday's talks at the Kremlin added a systematic approach to them.

– I would say that the tone of the talks – and I'm not afraid to say it – was constructive and friendly. Putin knows Witkoff well, having met him six times. Their conversations are really friendly. They understand each other without words, Ushakov told Russian state television during Putin's visit to India.

Putin met with Witkoff and Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday to discuss the US plan to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Putin later described their five-hour talks as “very useful.”

Ushakov said Kushner's participation was “very timely.” – In addition to Witkoff's charm and kindness, he added an element of a systematic approach. Personally, I believe that if some plan to resolve the conflict is still being developed, Kushner will have a large part in it, Ushakov said.

On Thursday, Witkoff met with Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov in Florida and was scheduled to meet with him again on Friday. It is unclear whether Kushner also participated in these talks. (PAP)

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