KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A senior Kremlin official said Friday that Russian police and National Guard will stay on in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas and oversee the industry-rich region, even if a peace settlement ends Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning to Western allies about the reality of the threat posed by Russia, as negotiations are making slow progress to end the war in Ukraine and the U.S. pressures Kyiv to make painful compromises with the Kremlin, including on territorial concessions.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a peace plan that Washington hopes can end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine.

President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Ahead of the key meeting, Russia professed fresh military victories, hammering home its claim that it can succeed in the war without negotiations if it wants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his five-hour talks with US envoys on ending the war in Ukraine were “necessary” and “useful” but also “difficult work,” with some of the proposals