US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in extensive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, part of Washington’s renewed efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The White House highlighted that the talks, which spanned more than three hours, concentrated on devising concrete plans for a potential resolution. Details regarding the next steps are anticipated to surface in the coming weeks. Following their Moscow visit, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to proceed to Kyiv to confer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin reported that multiple ideas for a peace settlement were explored during the meeting, though no significant breakthroughs were achieved. Putin reiterated Russia’s stance that the fundamental issues driving the conflict need to be addressed and asserted that Russian forces are making headway on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy linked recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil international airport to the arrival of the US envoys, noting that Ukraine would recalibrate its military strategies in response to Russia’s use of airspace for attacks.
This diplomatic initiative comes amid Washington’s ongoing attempts to restart peace negotiations after previous efforts fell short of reaching an agreement. Ending the war has been a key foreign-policy priority for President Donald Trump, who recently disclosed that Witkoff and Kushner were presenting a new proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. However, significant disagreements persist between Moscow and Kyiv, with Russia insisting on control over certain territories and opposing Ukraine’s potential NATO membership—conditions that Ukraine has firmly rejected.
The war has escalated in recent weeks, marked by both sides launching long-range drone and missile strikes. Russian attacks have focused on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has targeted Russian military sites, energy infrastructure, and oil refineries as part of its efforts to undermine Moscow’s military campaign. As fighting continues along the approximately 1,250-kilometer frontline, Washington’s latest diplomatic push seeks to bridge the considerable divide between the two warring nations.