In a significant diplomatic effort, US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in over three hours of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as the United States seeks to rekindle initiatives to resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the White House, the talks aimed at outlining substantial plans for moving forward towards a potential settlement, with additional details anticipated in the upcoming weeks. Following their discussions in Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner are set to travel to Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin reported that the conversations encompassed various ideas for a possible resolution but did not indicate any significant breakthrough. During the talks, Putin emphasized that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed and claimed that Russia was advancing on the battlefield. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy noted that recent Russian strikes on Kyiv and the Boryspil international airport seemed to coincide with the arrival of the US negotiators. Zelenskyy also warned of potential adjustments in Ukraine’s military operations in response to Russia’s airspace activities.
Efforts by Washington to restart negotiations come after previous peace attempts failed to achieve a resolution. Ending the war has been a major foreign policy priority for President Donald Trump, who recently mentioned that Witkoff and Kushner were presenting a new proposal to end the conflict. Despite these efforts, significant differences persist between Moscow and Kyiv, with Russia demanding control over certain territories and opposing Ukraine’s NATO membership, while Ukraine firmly rejects these conditions.
The war has seen an escalation in recent weeks, with both sides engaging in long-range drone and missile attacks. Russian forces have targeted Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces have retaliated by attacking Russian military sites, energy facilities, and oil refineries in an effort to weaken Russia’s military capabilities. This renewed diplomatic push by the US aims to bridge the substantial gaps between the two nations, even as hostilities continue along the approximately 1,250-kilometer frontline.