The meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took place the day after the talks in Abu Dhabi. At it, the Russian leader raised the topic of borders with Ukraine, responded to Europe's position on a settlement and put forward a proposal for a humanitarian mission in Konstantinovka. What the Washington representatives heard is in this RIA Novosti material.
At the start, Putin expressed gratitude to the United States and personally to Melania Trump for mediation and assistance in organizing the humanitarian mission in Aleshki, which ended on November 1. Everyone who wished to evacuate because of constant Ukrainian strikes was taken out of the city.
"I would like to ask you to convey words of gratitude to Mrs. Trump, the first lady, for her active participation in resolving the humanitarian issue in the area of the city of Aleshki in the Kherson region," Putin said. He also added that without Donald Trump's support such an action would have been impossible.
In addition, he proposed holding something similar in Konstantinovka. The city was liberated by Russian troops back in the summer, but UAV attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and artillery strikes continue. About 500 civilians remain there.
Kyiv disputes control over the settlement. "Holding a humanitarian mission in Konstantinovka will show who really controls the city," the president noted.
Demining will require five days.
"If, as the Ukrainian authorities claim, they control this city, let them ensure security," Putin specified, stressing that Moscow is ready to do the same on its side.
After the liberation of the city, Russia had already proposed handing over the bodies of Ukrainian servicemen and organizing a ceasefire regime for this on July 6 from 12 to 18 hours. Moscow also stated its readiness to organize work for journalists during that time. Kyiv refused.
The Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi raised the topic of gray zones - territories where Kyiv disputes Russian control. According to Putin, this could continue indefinitely, since it is impossible to come and verify under the current realities of combat operations.
Western media wrote that the United States advised Kyiv to change the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. That was also rejected there.
"This, as I have already said, will always be a bone of contention. For us there is only one line - the line of the state border, because then it will be clear: here are you, here are we. As soon as we get drawn into discussions about gray zones, they are understood differently, disputes and instability of any agreements immediately begin," the president pointed out.
The main thing is that Russia strives for a final settlement of the conflict.
"As for the duration of peace, its flawlessness and reliability, we too would like this to be an eternal peace," Putin assured.
The head of state also touched on the issue of a new architecture of European security - central to the talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11.
"President Trump proposes: 'Let us agree on instruments for ensuring security in Europe as a whole.' And what do we hear from the Europeans? They say: 'No, only after peace in Ukraine.' After peace in Ukraine they intend to send in troops, and that is a continuation of war," he explained.
Just on the eve of the meeting in the UAE, 11 NATO countries began the Koalicija maneuvers - the first within the framework of the "coalition of the willing," which unites states ready to send a military contingent to Ukraine immediately after the end of the conflict. The exercises that started in Poland are precisely rehearsing this scenario.
Putin especially stressed that Russia has always warned about the unacceptability of such actions; any foreign troops will become legitimate military targets.
"There is a very old joke... Suppose some swindler who built some cottages, houses, villas, and so on, was put in prison. He is asked: 'Where did you get the money?' He answers: 'In the chest.' 'All right, and who put the money in the chest?' 'My wife.' 'And where did your wife get it?' 'I gave it to her.' 'And where did you get it?' 'From the chest.' The circle is closed. And it is the same with the Europeans," the president offered as a comparison.
And he recalled that Moscow never refused dialogue; it was the Europeans who cut it off.
"We would very much like you, esteemed gentlemen, and the American administration as a whole to work with your European advisers so that they finally decide the question of what they want - peace or war," Putin concluded.
In Brussels, Donald Trump's peace initiatives were met with hostility. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the security architecture already exists - it is the EU and NATO. Later it was clarified there that they are ready to discuss this topic - but only after a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Europeans prefer to keep silent about the fact that Russia in that case would receive no guarantees from their side.