US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin following two days of talks in Abu Dhabi intended to seek an end to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The Abu Dhabi summit, the first such meeting between the parties since February, was described by Russian state media RIA Novosti as having been held in a “positive atmosphere,” with delegations working effectively. However, the sessions concluded without a wider peace deal.
The meetings in Moscow concluded with no immediate breakthrough, but the American delegation expressed optimism about the trajectory of the negotiations. “I think progress was made. I think it was made earlier today,” said Witkoff, a US special envoy, to CNN at Vnukovo Airport before the envoys departed.
Witkoff said that agreement had been reached on the next round of peace negotiations. Witkoff added that President Trump wants to end the Ukraine war as quickly as possible.
Kushner, who acts as one of President Trump’s senior advisers, emphasized that the administration wants European countries to be involved in the peace process, a request long championed by Ukraine and its European partners. Speaking after the talks, Kushner told Putin that Europe wants a role in future negotiations.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrive in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin following trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/Dk9hTF2LIP
While the US envoys intend to push for this inclusion, Russian officials have remained cautious. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said that no contacts between Russian and EU representatives occurred in Abu Dhabi, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the presence of European officials in the UAE, suggesting their involvement was not a “promising approach.”
Zelenskyy warned that these limitations have hampered the country’s ability to defend itself. Meanwhile, the conflict continues as Ukraine has resumed attacks on energy infrastructure, and Russia continues to strike civilian energy infrastructure across Ukraine, including recent attacks in Odesa.
Before meeting with the US envoys, Zelenskyy attended a summit of the European Political Community in Dublin. Zelenskyy remains firm on the issue of sovereignty, stating, “We must be clear and never, under any circumstances, recognize the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory.”
Major hurdles to a peace deal persist, particularly Putin’s demand that Ukraine surrender all of its eastern Donbas region — roughly 20% of Ukraine’s overall territory. Dmitry Lytvyn, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, recently highlighted concerns regarding Russian movements, noting that troops and equipment were rotated in Oleshky under the guise of a humanitarian operation.
“It's clear what they want in Kostyantynivka,” Lytvyn told the BBC, adding that the details of such maneuvers require further clarification. As Kushner and Witkoff continue their shuttle diplomacy, the gap between the two sides remains wide, with Ukraine asserting that the Kremlin has not offered a single proposal.
Earlier coverage: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff Arrive in Moscow for Putin Talks
