Trump’s envoys Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin in Moscow as US makes fresh push to revive Ukraine peace talks

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow to engage in peace talks with Vladimir Putin, marking a significant diplomatic push by the Trump administration to revive Ukraine peace discussions. The visit comes as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on critical issues like territorial demands, military guarantees, and Ukraine's relationship with NATO, which have previously stalled negotiations.

Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday, greeted by Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's investment envoy. They were expected to meet with Putin alongside senior Russian officials. The US delegation's mission is to determine if there is a window for serious negotiations and to present a new peace proposal to Ukraine.

Putin ordered a temporary pause in airstrikes on Kyiv and a reciprocal halt in strikes on Moscow during the envoys' visit, creating a brief diplomatic window. However, Ukraine remains wary of accepting concessions that might reward Russia's invasion, fearing it could undermine their sovereignty and security.

The US delegation faces significant challenges due to entrenched differences between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia has pressed Ukraine to surrender territory in the Donetsk region and abandon its NATO ambitions, while Kyiv has rejected these demands, arguing that accepting them would reward Russia's invasion. The US aims to find a path forward despite these obstacles, with Kushner's involvement adding another layer to the negotiations.

The talks come against the backdrop of a five-year war, with previous rounds of negotiations repeatedly failing when discussions moved beyond humanitarian issues to politically sensitive questions. The latest mission is aimed at reviving peace efforts that have floundered, with the outcome of the discussions expected to be shared with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.