During recent discussions with U.S. representatives, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the five-hour negotiation sessions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine as “necessary” and “useful,” though he acknowledged the process was challenging, with some suggestions being unacceptable to Russia.

Putin shared these insights in an interview with India Today TV, ahead of his upcoming visit to New Delhi on Thursday. While the complete interview has yet to be aired, Russian news outlets Tass and RIA Novosti have provided excerpts of Putin’s statements.

These remarks from Putin coincide with a scheduled meeting in Miami on Thursday, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to engage in further discussions with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s chief negotiator. This information was shared by a senior official within the Trump administration who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.

The high-level discussions form part of President Trump’s renewed strategy to bring an end to the prolonged conflict, now nearing its fourth year. Although there appears to be a newfound momentum in the peace process, it remains a complex task to align the differing priorities, or “red lines,” of Russia and Ukraine.

President Trump indicated on Wednesday that both Witkoff and Kushner emerged from their extensive dialogue with Putin at the Kremlin optimistic about his willingness to seek a resolution to the ongoing war.

“Their impression was very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump said.

Tass quoted Putin as saying in the interview that at the talks in the Kremlin, the sides “had to go through each point” of the U.S. peace proposal, “which is why it took so long.”

“This was a necessary conversation, a very concrete one,” the Russian president said.

There were provisions that Moscow said it was ready to discuss, while others “we can’t agree to,” Putin said.

“It’s difficult work,” he added.

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Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.