Senior United States diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have concluded high-level discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, marking the latest diplomatic initiative by the Trump administration to terminate the conflict in Ukraine. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that the envoys were delivering a proposal aimed at ending what he described as Europe’s deadliest war since the Second World War.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov characterized the meeting as “highly useful,” noting that the substantive talks extended beyond three hours. According to Ushakov, the US delegation outlined various potential pathways for a settlement, describing the exchanges as frank and constructive. However, specific details of the proposed plan remain undisclosed.
The diplomatic maneuver comes as both nations have escalated military operations, though Moscow and Kyiv announced a three-day ceasefire coinciding with the envoys’ trip. Despite the pause in attacks on their capitals, violence has continued elsewhere; at least seven people were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine, while a Ukrainian drone attack resulted in one death in Russia’s Belgorod region.
Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Witkoff, the US special envoy, are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This marks their second visit to the Kremlin this year and the eighth since the onset of the war. The inclusion of Treasury official Gene Lang in the delegation suggests that sanctions policy was likely a key topic of discussion, given the Trump administration’s recent intensification of economic pressures on Moscow.
The choice of envoys has drawn skepticism from some experts. Alexey Muraviev, a senior research fellow at Edith Cowan University, noted that Ukrainian officials often view both men as susceptible to accepting Russia’s narrative. Correspondent Audrey McAlpine observed that the tone and language used during the Moscow meeting indicated a familiarity between Witkoff and Putin that may not sit well with Ukrainian counterparts.
Underlying the diplomatic efforts are significant geopolitical pressures. The Trump administration faces domestic challenges ahead of the November midterm elections, particularly regarding the unpopular conflict with Iran, which has diverted attention and resources from the Ukraine war. A successful peace agreement could serve as a significant political boost for the president.
While NATO European members have increased defense spending and offered security guarantees for a post-conflict Ukraine, Russia continues to demand that Ukraine refrain from joining the alliance and cede control of four regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—which Putin annexed in 2022. Ukraine has firmly refused to relinquish territory.
Looking ahead, reports indicate Trump may meet Putin again in November during the APEC summit in China. Moscow has not ruled out a potential trilateral meeting involving the presidents of Russia, China, and the United States.
Let’s see if they actually discuss territory before flying to Kyiv. Otherwise, it’s just photo ops.
Sending Kushner and Witkoff feels like a joke. Won’t Zelenskyy be furious about this setup?
Seven people died despite the truce? How does anyone trust these talks anymore?
Hope this time it sticks. The ceasefire is fragile but at least there’s movement.