US envoys Witkoff, Kushner meet Putin to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war; to visit Kyiv on Sunday: What we know
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin for a three-hour discussion to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and urged a brief pause in airstrikes as the US envoys are expected to visit Ukraine on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday (local time) and discussed ideas to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Here's what we know about the meeting
According to an Axios report, the US envoys want to resume direct negotiations between the two adversaries after talks were suspended roughly six months ago, with the fighting escalating ahead of winter. During the three-hour meeting, Putin reportedly told Witkoff and Kushner that he has "full trust" in the US mediation between Moscow and Kyiv.
Quick answers to key questions
US envoys Witkoff and Kushner discussed ideas to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, aiming to resume direct negotiations after a six-month suspension of talks.
Both Russia and Ukraine agreed to pause airstrikes to ensure a safe and constructive environment for the US envoys' diplomatic discussions in Kyiv.
The meeting could potentially revive stalled peace talks by providing insights and assessments from Putin to the envoys, which they would take to Kyiv for further discussions.
Kushner's involvement signifies a strategic approach by the White House to deploy trusted intermediaries for sensitive diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict.
Ukrainian officials maintain that accepting territorial concessions to Russia would be unacceptable, as it could jeopardize Ukraine's sovereignty and future security.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, told Russian reporters that Witkoff and Kushner "made serious preparations for this trip. They not only expressed their traditional interest in a speedy end to the fighting but also formulated a number of ideas regarding possible resolution paths."
In a statement after the talks concluded, he described the discussion as "substantive, constructive, exceptionally candid, and conducted in a spirit of trust." He added, "The Russian side provided clear and comprehensive assessments of the situation developing during the special military operation," ABC News reported.
A statement from the Kremlin aide about the talks said, "Our president confirmed his intention to continue working jointly with the Americans to seek political and diplomatic solutions. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner promised to use, during tomorrow’s contacts in Kyiv, the observations and assessments they had received personally from the President of Russia concerning the path toward a lasting peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine."
Witkoff, Kushner seek halt in strikes amid planned Kyiv visit
The two envoys will travel to Kyiv on Sunday (local time) and have gotten both Russia and Ukraine to agree to briefly pause airstrikes to allow the trip to take place. Following the agreement from the Russian President, the US envoys also thanked Moscow for pausing airstrikes during their visit to Kyiv and for releasing ex-US Marine Robert Gilman.
Putin said, "We will do our utmost to provide for the safety of the negotiations," and noted that the brief halt in airstrikes would begin at midnight Saturday, Moscow time. He added that Ukraine had also reduced its strikes.
In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he spoke with the US envoys following their arrival in Moscow, adding that Kyiv's goal is to ensure the visit is "as constructive and substantive as possible." He wrote, "From the moment of this conversation, we are ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against the cities involved in the negotiation process," and 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."
US renews mediation efforts
The meeting between the US envoys and the Russian President comes as US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian officials said Witkoff and Kushner were coming with a ceasefire proposal from Kyiv. However, it remains unclear whether the latest ceasefire proposal differs from what was previously offered. While Putin has signalled that his demands for territory in Kyiv remain unchanged, Ukrainian officials have maintained that such demands are unacceptable.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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