US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow as Ukraine Peace Talks Advance
Quick Look
US President Donald Trump's top negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine, with both sides agreeing to a temporary halt on strikes targeting each other's capitals while preparations continue for talks in Kyiv.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The article references the ongoing war in Ukraine that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, noting that previous US and allied efforts to broker a peace deal have failed.
US President Donald Trump's top negotiators have met Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit to Moscow for peace talks.
Video on Russian state media shows Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner being greeted by Putin, as efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather pace.
Trump told reporters on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were "bringing with them a proposal to end the war". So far, efforts from the US and its allies to broker a peace deal have failed. On Sunday they will travel to Kyiv for more talks.
Both Russia and Ukraine have said they would halt strikes on each others' capital cities for three days while the delegation conducts its visit.
Zelensky said on Saturday that he had spoken to the envoys, who have "already begun working with the Russian side today".
"The plan for tomorrow's diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the US team, has been approved. We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation," he added.
"From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv."
Russian state media reported that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a halt to strikes on Kyiv for three days due to the US visit.
US news outlet Axios reported that the US envoys would separately meet both Putin and Zelensky.
Kushner and Witkoff have visited Russia several times but the talks on Sunday would be the first in Ukraine.
It is not clear how the US envoys will be travelling from Moscow to Kyiv.
Ukraine's airspace has been closed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US envoys will meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday
Very likely · Within days
Both Russia and Ukraine will observe a three-day halt on strikes targeting each other's capital cities
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific proposals are the US envoys bringing to end the war?
- How will the US envoys travel from Moscow to Kyiv given Ukraine's closed airspace?
- What are the exact terms of the three-day strike halt agreement?
- Will the talks in Kyiv lead to a substantive peace agreement?
