Putin meets US envoys who later head to Ireland for an EU summit

US envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin before heading to Ireland for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Washington sought new momentum for its peace efforts

in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for about two hours where Putin said there was positive progress made

with Ukraine to solve humanitarian issues.

Putin, however, reiterated his opposition to the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping force, warning such forces would pose a threat to Russia's national security and become legitimate military targets.

Witkoff and Kushner had brokered talks in Abu Dhabi where the first direct discussions between representatives of Moscow and Kyiv in nine months took place, after the push for peace had stalled.

The US envoys then flew to Ireland to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was there to attend the European Political Community gathering.

Kushner said one goal of the meeting with Putin was to get the Russian leader's blessing for European representatives to be part of the talks which are looking at the continent's broader security arrangements.

US special envoyJared Kushner said "We've also been working very, very closely over the past several months with the Europeans. And I think that that's been very important.

We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table. We've been telling President (Vladimir) Putin that we believe that's very important,

and President Zelenskyy has been a very strong supporter, and he's been saying that from the very, very beginning. And I that we're able to achieve that with President Putin,

and he is willing to give it a try."

President of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen reassured Ukrainians that Europe is by their side as Zelenskyy insisted European nations be a part of the peace talks.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said "I want to thank you for the close cooperation, also we have on Ukraine.

It was just felt in the meeting that we had, the big support for Ukraine and the steadfastness, and we share the same value, we share the same goals,

and so far, it was very good to reassure the Ukrainians that we are by their side."