US Envoys Arrive in Moscow for Talks on Russia-Ukraine War

US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday for talks with Russian officials as Washington stepped up diplomatic efforts to find a possible settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war. The American delegation was met at the airport by Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, according to people familiar with the visit. The talks are expected to include discussions on a new US peace proposal aimed at bringing an end to the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was expected to meet the American representatives during their visit. The meeting would mark another high-level diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow as efforts to end the war continue despite persistent disagreements between Russia and Ukraine.

The visit follows President Donald Trump’s recent comments that the United States had developed a new proposal for ending the conflict. Trump has not publicly disclosed the details of the plan, leaving uncertainty over how it would address the most contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv. Witkoff and Kushner are also expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Their planned meetings in both capitals underline Washington’s attempt to engage directly with the two sides and explore possible areas of compromise.

However, significant obstacles remain. Russia has demanded that Ukraine recognise Moscow’s claims over occupied territories in four Ukrainian regions and abandon its ambition of joining NATO. Kyiv has consistently rejected territorial concessions and has insisted that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The diplomatic initiative is also taking place against the backdrop of continued military activity. Russian and Ukrainian forces have continued launching attacks despite renewed efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, with both sides remaining deeply divided over the terms of a potential settlement.

Moscow has separately announced a temporary pause in strikes against Kyiv, beginning at midnight on Saturday and lasting three days. The pause coincides with the planned visit of the US representatives to Ukraine and could provide a brief period of reduced hostilities during the diplomatic effort.

While the arrival of Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow signals continued US engagement with Russia, the conflicting positions of Moscow and Kyiv mean that reaching a comprehensive agreement is likely to remain difficult. The meetings in Moscow and Kyiv are expected to provide Washington with an opportunity to assess the positions of both sides and determine whether the latest peace initiative can form the basis for further negotiations.