On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he discussed potential avenues for concluding the war in Ukraine “on equitable terms” during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Addressing senior officials in Moscow the day after their discussions in Alaska, Putin described the talks as “timely” and “very productive,” based on footage released by the Kremlin.

“We haven’t engaged in direct negotiations of this nature at this level for quite some time,” he remarked, adding that it allowed both sides to clearly and thoroughly present their viewpoints.

“The conversation was very candid, substantive, and, in my view, brings us closer to the necessary resolutions,” he noted.

On February 24, 2022, Putin commanded the deployment of Russian forces into Ukraine in a sweeping invasion that has resulted in thousands of deaths, widespread destruction of cities, and has displaced millions of individuals from their homes.