In a significant diplomatic move, US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in over three hours of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as Washington intensifies its efforts to bring an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The White House indicated that these talks centered around substantial plans for potential next steps in reaching a settlement, with further details anticipated to unfold in the coming weeks. Following their Moscow visit, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to proceed to Kyiv for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin reported that various proposals for a possible settlement were discussed during the meeting but did not suggest that any major breakthroughs were achieved. Putin reiterated Russia’s stance that the fundamental causes of the conflict need to be addressed, asserting that Russian forces are making strides on the battlefield. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy connected recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil international airport to the US negotiators’ arrival, warning that Ukraine would modify its operations in response to Russia’s utilization of airspace for attacks.
The US has been striving to rekindle negotiations after earlier peace attempts failed to yield a resolution. President Donald Trump has prioritized ending the war as a key foreign-policy goal, recently stating that Witkoff and Kushner are presenting a new proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. However, significant differences persist between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia continues to demand control over certain territories and opposes Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, conditions that Ukraine has steadfastly rejected.
In recent weeks, the conflict has escalated, with both parties conducting long-range drone and missile strikes. Russian assaults have targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has aimed at Russian military installations, energy infrastructure, and oil refineries to impair Moscow’s military efforts. This latest diplomatic initiative by Washington seeks to bridge the considerable divides between the conflicting sides, even as hostilities persist along the approximately 1,250-kilometer frontline.