In a bid to revive stalled peace efforts, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in over three hours of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. These talks are part of Washington’s continued attempts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The White House indicated that the meeting focused on outlining substantive plans for progressing toward a potential settlement, with more information expected to be released soon. Following their meeting in Moscow, the envoys planned to proceed to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Kremlin officials noted that several ideas for a possible settlement were discussed, but there was no indication of a breakthrough being achieved. President Putin reiterated Russia’s stance that the fundamental causes of the conflict must be addressed, and he asserted that Russia is making progress on the battlefield. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy suggested that recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil International Airport might be related to the arrival of the US negotiators. He also emphasized that Ukraine would adapt its strategies in response to Russia’s use of its airspace for military operations.
Washington’s efforts to rekindle negotiations come after earlier attempts failed to yield an agreement. President Donald Trump has prioritized ending the war as a significant foreign-policy objective and recently mentioned that Witkoff and Kushner are presenting a new proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. However, substantial differences persist between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia’s demands include control over certain territories and opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, while Ukraine has rejected these terms.
The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, with both nations engaging in long-range drone and missile strikes. Russian forces have targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has retaliated by attacking Russian military facilities, energy infrastructure, and oil refineries to undermine Moscow’s war efforts. This latest diplomatic initiative by Washington aims to narrow the substantial divide between the two sides, even as the fighting continues along a frontline stretching approximately 1,250 kilometers.
