US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow Carrying Ukraine Peace Plan

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to present a proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The delegation is scheduled to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking their first official diplomatic visit to Ukraine since the war began.

US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the envoys were “bringing with them a proposal to end the war.” The mission represents the latest effort by Washington to negotiate a settlement following previous unsuccessful attempts by the United States and its allies.

Moscow Discussions and Travel Itinerary

Russian state television broadcast footage of Putin receiving Witkoff and Kushner. Upon landing at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, the envoys were met by Russian official Kirill Dmitriev. Flight tracking data indicated that a US government aircraft traveled from the United States to Moscow via Helsinki, Finland.

Although Kushner and Witkoff have made several prior visits to Russia, Sunday’s scheduled discussions in Kyiv will mark their first in Ukraine. US news outlet Axios reported that the envoys are holding separate talks with Putin and Zelensky during their trip.

Three-Day Pause on Capital Bombardments

To facilitate the diplomatic visit, both nations agreed to a three-day halt on strikes targeting each other’s capitals. Russian state media reported that Putin ordered a suspension of attacks on Kyiv. Zelensky confirmed Ukraine would refrain from striking Moscow from Saturday through Monday, anticipating identical restraint from Russian forces.

Zelensky stated on Saturday that he had spoken with the envoys, noting they had “already begun working with the Russian side today.” He added that the itinerary for Sunday’s meetings in Kyiv had been finalized.

Transport Challenges and Ongoing Strikes

It remains unconfirmed how the US delegation will travel from Moscow to Kyiv, as Ukrainian airspace has been closed to commercial traffic since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky reported that Russian forces carried out overnight strikes against airports in Kyiv and Boryspil, which he characterized as a reaction to discussions regarding potential US aircraft landings.

Despite the temporary agreement regarding capital cities, military strikes continued elsewhere. Zelensky reported that an overnight Russian attack on a civilian building in the Dnipro region killed four people and injured five others.

Broader Diplomatic Context

The mission comes just over a week after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare visit to Moscow. Trump described that trip as “semi-routine,” though neither the US government nor the Kremlin released details regarding the topics discussed.

Previous negotiation frameworks involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia, alongside European talks in Paris, ended without breakthrough due to persistent disagreements over territorial control and security guarantees for Ukraine. Aerial engagements have intensified in recent months, with Ukraine reporting shortages of interceptor missiles against ballistic attacks while targeting Russian economic infrastructure.

Background

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine have involved multiple rounds of talks over the past 18 months, including meetings hosted in the United States and consultations among European allies in France. Negotiations have consistently stalled over fundamental disputes regarding territorial integrity and future security arrangements for Kyiv. The current diplomatic initiative takes place during a period of heavy aerial bombardment, with Ukrainian forces facing shortages of air-defense interceptors.