US Envoys Witkoff and Kushner Meet Putin in Moscow as Ukraine Peace Push Intensifies
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday for roughly three hours, in a renewed American effort to revive negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
The talks focused on U.S. proposals for ending the conflict and possible next steps toward negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. A White House official said the discussions covered “substantive plans for next steps,” with further details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Putin described the situation as difficult but said contacts with the U.S. side were beneficial. He also told the American envoys that Russia was prepared to help ensure their safety during the diplomatic mission.
The Kremlin characterized the meeting as useful and constructive, but there was no immediate breakthrough. Russian officials indicated that major differences remain over the terms of any settlement, while Ukraine has continued to oppose territorial concessions.
The meeting was accompanied by a temporary pause in airstrikes involving Kyiv and Moscow, intended to provide security for the U.S. delegation. Ukrainian officials said they would refrain from targeting Moscow during the envoys’ visit.
The diplomatic mission is now moving to Kyiv. Witkoff and Kushner are expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, making the visit significant because the U.S. team is carrying its peace proposals directly between the Russian and Ukrainian leaderships.
The latest meeting comes after months of stalled negotiations and continued fighting. The Trump administration is attempting to restart direct Russia-Ukraine diplomacy, but the large gap between Moscow’s and Kyiv’s positions means that a final peace agreement remains far from certain.
The immediate focus now shifts to Kyiv, where the U.S. envoys will test whether the proposals discussed with Putin can also gain acceptance from Zelenskyy’s government.
