The Kremlin described the discussions as “highly useful” but gave no indication of a breakthrough.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Witkoff and Kushner had “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement”, without providing details.
Putin told the US envoys that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield and remained confident of achieving its objectives, Ushakov said.
The Russian president also stressed that any settlement would have to address what Moscow calls “all the root causes of the conflict”.
Those positions have been repeatedly stated by the Kremlin during the war, which has lasted more than four and a half years. Both sides have intensified long-range air strikes in recent weeks, while the front lines have remained largely unchanged.
Witkoff and Kushner, who are representing US President Donald Trump, did not comment publicly. They were visiting Moscow for the first time since January and flew out shortly after the talks. They are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday.
Ushakov said the discussions went beyond the conflict itself, with the two sides also discussing economic issues and potential major Russian-American projects.
“Overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides,” Ushakov said.
Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who also attended the meeting, described the visit on X as an “important peacemaking visit”.
Putin praises Trump’s efforts
Speaking at the start of the meeting, Putin praised Trump’s efforts to end the war.
Trump said on Friday that Washington had a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict, but did not provide details.
“Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said.
Putin also promised to ensure the safety of the US negotiators.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin had ordered the Russian military not to strike Kyiv for three days during their visit.
Russia had launched repeated missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital over the previous 10 days, including a strike on Friday that hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has carried out strikes against Russian refineries, oil terminals and warehouses belonging to online retailer Wildberries in an effort to increase the economic cost of the war for Moscow.
Zelenskiy said Kyiv was prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday.
Wide gap remains between Moscow and Kyiv
Despite the latest diplomatic contacts, significant differences remain between Russia and Ukraine over how to end the conflict, the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two.
A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters before the latest visit that Putin remained determined to capture additional territory.
“There is no chance of reaching an agreement regarding the front line until Putin finishes securing the remaining part of the Donetsk region,” the source said, adding that the Kremlin believed this could happen by the end of the year.
Western military analysts consider such an outcome unlikely, citing Russia’s slow battlefield advances.
Ukraine has rejected any proposal requiring it to surrender territory it has defended at significant cost, arguing that such terms would amount to capitulation.
The Kremlin said on Friday that Putin’s position, outlined in a speech two years ago, remained “unshakeable”. Under that position, Ukraine would be required to surrender the entirety of four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its ambitions to join NATO.
Since the last US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in February, both sides have stepped up long-range strikes deep inside each other’s territory, while fighting at sea has also intensified.
