US envoy Steve Wintkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to present Washington's plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

His visit comes a day after US President Donald Trump issued a direct appeal to the Russian leader to halt his offensive.

Trump is trying to broker a truce between Moscow and Kiev that would end three years of fighting. However, despite several rounds of negotiations, he has failed to secure any serious concessions from the Kremlin, AFP reported.

Russia launched its full-scale offensive in Ukraine in 2022, hoping to take over the country in a matter of days, but has since been embroiled in a huge, bloody conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.

A video posted by Russian state media shows Witkoff meeting Putin in the Kremlin. The two smile, shake hands, and exchange a few words in English before beginning talks.

The billionaire real estate investor has played a key role in Washington's peace efforts and has already met with Putin three times since Trump returned to the White House in January.

The US president has threatened to withdraw from the talks if he does not see progress toward a ceasefire.

On April 24, after Russian attacks in Kiev killed 12 people, Trump wrote on social media: "Vladimir, stop!"

"Let's make a peace deal!" he added.

When asked how he would react if Russia did not accept the deal, Trump replied: "I won't be happy, let me put it that way. Things will happen." | BGNES