In a significant diplomatic effort, US peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in extensive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, aiming to rejuvenate initiatives to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to the White House, their meeting, which lasted over three hours, concentrated on concrete plans for advancing towards a potential peace settlement. While more detailed information is anticipated to be disclosed in the coming weeks, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to proceed to Kyiv to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin acknowledged that the dialogue explored various ideas for resolving the conflict, though it did not indicate any significant breakthroughs. Putin reiterated Russia’s stance, emphasizing the need to address the fundamental causes of the conflict. He also claimed that Russia is making progress on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy highlighted that Russian attacks on Kyiv and Boryspil international airport seemed to coincide with the US negotiators’ arrival, prompting Ukraine to consider adjusting its military strategies in response to Russia’s use of airspace for such assaults.
Amid this backdrop, Washington has been actively trying to restart negotiations following previous unsuccessful peace attempts. President Donald Trump has prioritized ending the war as a key foreign-policy goal and recently announced that Witkoff and Kushner were presenting a new proposal to potentially resolve the conflict. Despite these efforts, substantial differences persist between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly concerning Russia’s demand for control over certain territories and its opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, which Ukraine firmly rejects.
The war has escalated in recent weeks, with both sides engaging in long-range drone and missile strikes. Russian military operations have primarily targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has focused on attacking Russian military installations, energy infrastructure, and oil refineries to undermine Moscow’s war efforts. This latest diplomatic initiative by Washington aims to bridge the considerable gaps between the conflicting parties, even as intense fighting continues along the approximately 1,250-kilometre frontline.
