US peace negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in over three hours of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as the United States intensifies efforts to revive peace talks to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to the White House, the meeting centered on substantive plans for advancing toward a potential resolution, with more details anticipated in the coming weeks. Following their Moscow visit, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to head to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Despite the lengthy talks, Kremlin officials reported that while several ideas for a settlement were discussed, no significant breakthroughs were achieved. President Putin reiterated Russia’s stance that a resolution must address the fundamental causes of the conflict, asserting that Russian forces are making progress on the battlefield. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, claimed that Russian attacks on Kyiv and the Boryspil international airport seemed to coincide with the US negotiators’ arrival, and he warned that Ukraine would adapt its military operations in response to Russia’s use of its airspace for strikes.
Efforts by Washington to restart negotiations come after previous peace attempts failed to yield an agreement. Ending the war in Ukraine has been a significant foreign policy objective for President Donald Trump, who recently announced that Witkoff and Kushner are presenting a new proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. However, major obstacles remain, with Russia demanding control over certain territories and opposing Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, conditions that Ukraine firmly rejects.
The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, with intensified military actions from both sides. Russia has launched long-range drone and missile attacks targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has responded by striking Russian military installations, energy infrastructure, and oil refineries to weaken Russia’s war capabilities. As fighting continues along the approximately 1,250-kilometer frontline, the latest diplomatic efforts by Washington aim to bridge the considerable gaps between the disputing parties.