MOSCOW/KYIV/BERLIN - Russian President Vladimir Putin and US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed Ukraine's accession to NATO during their talks, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Wednesday.

Russia and the United States had reached a consensus, said Ushakov without elaborating.

Ushakov said that the successful progress made by the Russian army on the Ukrainian frontlines in recent weeks has enabled the West to form a more appropriate assessment of the situation.

Ushakov said that Russia has so far only engaged in negotiations with the United States over the Ukraine crisis.

He emphasized that Russia does not hold a negative stance toward engaging with Europe, but Europe has refused to cooperate.

ALSO READ: Putin, US envoy meeting ends with no compromise plan for Ukraine

Putin and Witkoff held a roughly five-hour meeting that ended after midnight on Wednesday. Ushakov described the meeting as "extremely useful, constructive and highly informative", saying that the two sides reviewed documents previously conveyed by the United States and agreed not to disclose the essence of the talks.

Separate meetings with European, US representatives

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's delegation for peace negotiations is planning to hold separate meetings with European and US representatives.

In a post on the social media platform X, Zelensky announced that Ukrainian negotiators would meet with national security advisors to European leaders on Wednesday.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's secretary of national security and defense council, and Andrii Hnatov, chief of the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, will represent Ukraine at the meetings.

"Ukrainian representatives will brief their colleagues in Europe on what is known following yesterday's contacts by the American side in Moscow, and they will also discuss the European component of the necessary security architecture," Zelensky said.

ALSO READ: EU leaders reject peace deal shaped without Ukrainians, Europeans

After meeting European officials, Umerov and Hnatov will prepare for a meeting with envoys of US President Donald Trump, he added.

"Ukraine will work constructively in pursuit of real peace," Zelensky said.

Germany's new aid for Ukraine

Also on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced a new aid plan for Ukraine before departing for Brussels to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Foreign Office, Germany will procure $200 million's worth of defense equipment for Ukraine.

The equipment is scheduled to be delivered in two packages under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, a NATO framework that enables allied countries to finance US weapons for Ukraine.

ALSO READ: Norway pledges some $500m of new military support to Ukraine

In addition to military hardware, Germany pledged a further 25 million euros ($29.1 million) to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package to provide Ukrainian service personnel with winter equipment and medical support.

Wadephul said the new commitments are part of an intent by NATO allies to increase pressure on Russia.

Ukrainian parliament approves 2026 budget

Separately, the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday approved the state budget for next year, the country's Finance Ministry reported.

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said the budget prioritizes defense expenditures, social support and economic development.

Budget revenues are projected to reach 2.9 trillion hryvnias ($68.7 billion) next year. The main sources of revenue will be import VAT, personal income tax and military levy.

State expenditures are expected to total 4.8 trillion hryvnias, including 2.8 trillion hryvnias for defense.

Other priority spending areas include social welfare, education and healthcare.

Ukraine plans to secure about $65.9 billion in external financing next year, which would help to cover the budget deficit.