UPDATE - Kremlin confirms Putin, US envoy Witkoff will discuss Ukrainian settlement on Friday

ADDS KREMLIN SPOKESMAN'S REMARKS

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the Ukrainian settlement with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff later in the day.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said the meeting will last as long as necessary to convey Russia's position. Moscow views this contact as an opportunity to communicate its concerns to US President Donald Trump.

"The painstaking work continues. Naturally, Witkoff, being the special envoy of President Trump, will bring something from his president for Putin. Putin will listen to this. The conversation on various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement will continue," he said.

The possibility of a meeting between Putin and Trump might also be discussed during the encounter, he added. "Maybe," Peskov told reporters in response to a question.

The official, however, cautioned against high expectations from the meeting, noting that breakthrough results from Witkoff's visit to Russia should not be anticipated.

"There are many aspects, the substance is very complex. Therefore, conversations tend to take quite a long time. This is a very good opportunity for us, through Witkoff, to convey the main elements of Russia's position, the main concerns of Russia, which will then become known to President Trump," he said.

He said Moscow and Washington continue to work "scrupulously," keeping each other informed of their respective positions.

The US envoy's arrival in Russia comes a day after the conclusion of the second round of Russian-American talks on normalizing diplomatic relations held in Istanbul.