US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow as Ukraine Peace Talks Intensify
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow for talks with President Putin, following recent negotiations in Abu Dhabi and amid ongoing disputes over European involvement in peace efforts.
By Amir Navarro ·
Senior American negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit comes just one day after a separate round of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi. Russian media outlets published footage showing the two envoys disembarking from their plane, where they were greeted by Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev with handshakes and embraces.
The American delegation was scheduled to meet with Putin at 12:00 local time, which corresponds to 09:00 GMT. Following this meeting, Kushner and Witkoff are expected to travel to Dublin to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This rapid sequence of meetings highlights the intense diplomatic activity surrounding the conflict.
On Tuesday, Kushner indicated that the United States had identified several opportunities for progress. He stated that the team would work to make meaningful headway during the session with the Russian leader. The decision to hold direct, in-person talks between the presidents was announced on Wednesday, following two days of negotiations in the UAE that focused primarily on Europe's postwar security architecture.
Despite nearly five years having passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Moscow continues to maintain maximalist demands. These include claims over sovereign Ukrainian territory and a desire for Western nations to relinquish future commitments to protecting Kyiv against further attacks. During the initial years of the war, European leaders largely cut off communication with the Kremlin and avoided direct engagement with Russia.
In recent months, however, European officials have grown increasingly concerned about the current US administration's stance on European security. They perceive a softening toward the Kremlin and have actively pushed for a more prominent role in the negotiating process. Although the Abu Dhabi talks were led by Americans and included only Russia and Ukraine, Kushner said the US would ask Putin to approve the inclusion of European representatives in future discussions, particularly regarding the continent's long-term security setup.
Kushner also urged European nations to designate a single spokesperson to represent their interests in these negotiations. Russian officials have generally opposed this idea, pointing to Europe's ongoing support for Kyiv as a significant obstacle to consensus. Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, suggested that all parties had moved closer to peace. However, he noted that the outcome now depends heavily on Ukraine, the position of the United States, and whether Europe reaches a rational stance.
While the diplomatic efforts continue in Moscow, Ukraine is facing new challenges on the technological front. President Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces are again experiencing systematic restrictions on Starshield satellite internet, a service provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX company that is vital for frontline communications. Connectivity issues in October lasted for approximately one week, and Musk has previously denied that the throttling was intentional.
Zelensky stated that these restrictions have made it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. He described the situation as helping Russia kill more Ukrainians and execute more accurate strikes against the country. The Ukrainian leader added that his team is working to clarify the circumstances with the American side to resolve the issue.
