MOSCOW, Jan 22 - The Kremlin said on Thursday that it appreciated U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, but declined to comment on Witkoff's stated optimism that a deal was close.

Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on Ukraine later on Thursday. The Kremlin said it would give a briefing afterwards.