Trump Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow, Set to Visit Zelensky in Kyiv Amid Ukraine War Diplomacy
Quick Look
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held over three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, discussing Ukraine war settlement ideas and potential economic projects, before traveling to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Putin confirmed a three-day halt on strikes on Kyiv during the visit, while Ukraine pledged to refrain from striking Moscow through Monday.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Ukraine war continues with ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to broker a settlement. Recent battlefield developments and stalled negotiations have prompted renewed engagement, including discussions on economic cooperation and security guarantees.
Russian president Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow as Donald Trump’s administration stepped up efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine war.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks were “substantive, constructive and extremely frank”, but he gave no indication of any breakthrough.
He added that “the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides”. He said the US envoys “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement”, while Putin “reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to continue working with the US to find a political and diplomatic solution” to the conflict.
Putin told the envoys that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield, and that “all the root causes of the conflict” needed to be addressed.
Witkoff and Kushner have since left Moscow and are due to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday.
Putin said he had ordered Russian forces to halt strikes on Kyiv after receiving a request through diplomatic and intelligence channels, while Ukraine has said it will similarly refrain from striking Moscow through Monday.
ICYMI: Putin meets Trump envoys as limited truce takes effect
Russian president Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks with Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Saturday, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov describing the meeting as “substantive, very frank, and constructive”.
Ushakov said the envoys “put forward a number of ideas on possible routes to a settlement” and would take Putin’s views to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
A White House official said the sides had discussed “substantive plans for next steps”, to be announced in the coming weeks.
Putin told the envoys Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield and insisted that “all the root causes of the conflict” had to be addressed. At the start of the meeting, he asked them to convey his “very best wishes and words of gratitude” to Trump, saying the US president was continuing efforts to resolve the conflict despite “a difficult situation”.
The talks took place during a limited pause in strikes on the two capitals. Putin said he had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days after receiving a request through diplomatic and intelligence channels, saying: “I issued the relevant order, and no strikes have been carried out on Kyiv since midnight.”
Zelensky said Ukraine would refrain from striking Moscow through Monday.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further diplomatic talks between US envoys and Ukrainian leadership will occur in Kyiv.
Very likely · Within days
The temporary halt on strikes on Kyiv will be observed as stated by Putin.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific settlement ideas were proposed by the US envoys?
- Will the three-day strike pause on Kyiv be extended?
- How will Ukraine respond to the diplomatic overtures in Kyiv?
