MOSCOW — U.S. President Donald Trump’s two senior envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held a key meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Washington stepped up diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year war in Ukraine.
The closed-door meeting at the Kremlin lasted nearly three hours and focused on a new U.S. peace proposal aimed at breaking the military deadlock between Russia and Ukraine, according to the BBC.
As part of the U.S. delegation’s diplomatic mission, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary three-day halt to air attacks on Moscow and Kyiv, respectively, during the envoys’ movements between the two countries.
Putin Welcomes Direct Contact With Washington
Russian state television footage showed Putin receiving Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin. During the meeting, Putin acknowledged that the situation surrounding Ukraine remained “not at all simple,” but welcomed Trump’s efforts to facilitate negotiations.
“Whatever the situation, this kind of direct contact is always useful,” Putin said, while thanking Trump for his efforts to advance the peace process.
Witkoff, meanwhile, thanked Putin for suspending air attacks for three days, saying the measure would help ensure the safety of the U.S. delegation during its diplomatic mission.
U.S. Envoys Set to Meet ZelenskyyFollowing their Moscow talks, the U.S. representatives are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for direct discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The visit would mark the first trip to Kyiv by the U.S. special representatives since Trump returned to the White House for a second term.
Zelenskyy confirmed that diplomatic arrangements for the delegation’s visit had been finalized. He said Ukraine would refrain from launching attacks on Moscow while the U.S. representatives were in the country and expressed hope that Russia would likewise suspend attacks on Kyiv.
However, Zelenskyy strongly condemned Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil airport shortly before the planned U.S. visit. He suggested that the attacks were intended to create psychological pressure and prevent the American delegation from reaching Kyiv by air.
Key Terms Remain Unresolved
The precise terms of Trump’s proposed peace plan have not been publicly disclosed. Trump has said that Witkoff and Kushner carried a specific proposal designed to help bring the war to an end.
The Kremlin, however, has reiterated that Moscow remains committed to its previously stated demands. These include Russia retaining control over four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow and Ukraine abandoning its ambition to join NATO.
Kyiv has repeatedly rejected those demands.
The diplomatic effort comes as the war continues to impose enormous human and economic costs on both sides, while repeated attempts at negotiations have failed to produce a lasting settlement.
With Trump’s representatives now engaging separately with Putin and Zelenskyy, international attention is focused on whether Washington can bridge the fundamental differences between Moscow and Kyiv and create a viable path toward a broader ceasefire and eventual peace agreement.
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