US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Moscow and began talks with Vladimir Putin aimed at ending more than four years of war in Ukraine, with both sides pledging not to strike each other's capitals for three days.
Key facts
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday to try to revive a deal to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Vladimir Putin began talks with the envoys at the Kremlin on Saturday.
- Russia and Ukraine vowed not to strike each other's capitals for three days during the negotiations.
- The envoys were met at the airport by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
- A visit to Kyiv was expected on Sunday.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday in an effort to resuscitate a deal to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Guardian. Both sides said they would halt airstrikes for the visit.
The envoys were met at the airport by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, described as a key interlocutor for the Trump administration’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Later on Saturday, Russian president Vladimir Putin began talks with Kushner and Witkoff at the Kremlin on ending more than four years of war in Ukraine, ahead of the envoys’ first visit to Kyiv, which was expected on Sunday.
During the negotiations, both Russia and Ukraine vowed not to strike each other’s capitals for three days, as Washington sought to revive US-led talks to end what the Guardian described as Europe’s worst conflict since the second world war.
The visit followed a suggestion by Trump on Friday of a new proposal to end the war, though he provided no details on what his new plan might be. The US outlet Axios reported that the envoys were expected to meet Putin later in the day.
Trump made ending the war a priority early in his second term, but the Guardian reported that his efforts have so far yielded little results, with peace efforts having floundered in recent months.
Why it matters
The war in Ukraine remains Europe's worst conflict since the second world war, and any progress toward a ceasefire or settlement would have far-reaching consequences for regional security. The three-day pledge not to strike each other's capitals signals a rare, if limited, moment of restraint during the negotiations.
Frequently asked questions
Who traveled to Moscow for the Ukraine talks?
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow, where they were met at the airport by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and began talks with President Vladimir Putin.
What did Russia and Ukraine agree to during the talks?
Both Russia and Ukraine vowed not to strike each other's capitals for three days during the negotiations.
What happens after the Moscow meeting?
The envoys were expected to make their first visit to Kyiv on Sunday, following their talks with Putin at the Kremlin.