Moscow: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Thursday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at advancing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, following two days of US-mediated discussions in Abu Dhabi that produced an agreement on a prisoner exchange but no breakthrough on a peace settlement.
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev received the American delegation at Vnukovo International Airport before accompanying them to central Moscow for meetings at the Kremlin. The visit marks Witkoff's tenth in person meeting with Putin and forms part of President Donald Trump's efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, which began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Moscow discussions follow negotiations held in the United Arab Emirates on November 10 and 11, where Russian and Ukrainian representatives met directly under US mediation for the first time in nine months.Both delegations reported progress, including an agreement in principle to exchange prisoners of war. However, negotiators acknowledged that differences remained over territorial control and the conditions required for ending hostilities.
The number of prisoners to be exchanged has not yet been finalised, although Kushner described the proposed arrangement as a step towards addressing humanitarian concerns arising from the conflict.
Territorial dispute remains obstacle to peace
The status of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region continues to be a source of disagreement between Moscow and Kyiv. Putin has demanded that Ukraine relinquish control of the entire region as part of a settlement, a condition the Ukrainian government has rejected.
Kyiv maintains that accepting Russia's territorial demands would undermine its sovereignty and could leave the country exposed to further military pressure. With negotiations over territorial boundaries at an impasse, American mediators have sought to broaden discussions to include security guarantees, economic reconstruction and arrangements intended to prevent renewed hostilities.
Washington has indicated that a settlement would require commitments addressing Ukraine's security concerns while establishing terms acceptable to both sides. Despite Trump's public expressions of confidence in the negotiations, neither Russia nor Ukraine has announced concessions on territorial demands.
The Abu Dhabi discussions also highlighted disagreements over Europe's participation in the process. Kushner said European governments should be represented in future negotiations because any settlement would have implications for the continent's security arrangements.
Russia has expressed reservations about expanding the negotiating format, although a Russian diplomat suggested on Wednesday that Moscow could consider non aggression agreements with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Several European governments have opposed discussions on a wider security framework before meaningful progress towards a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Attacks continue despite diplomatic contacts
The latest diplomatic efforts come as Russia and Ukraine continue military operations despite the resumption of negotiations. Both countries reported attacks on their capitals early Thursday, hours before the US delegation arrived in Moscow.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted military and energy facilities in Ukraine, while Ukrainian officials reported damage to infrastructure in the Rivne region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences had intercepted drones approaching the capital.
The continued attacks illustrate the difference between the resumption of diplomatic contacts and an agreement to halt fighting. Neither side has announced a ceasefire, and military operations remain underway while negotiations continue.
The conflict has caused deaths, displacement and damage to infrastructure, with energy facilities and civilian communities affected across Ukraine. Reconstruction costs and arrangements for protecting Ukraine against future attacks are expected to form part of discussions on a possible settlement.
Following their meeting with Putin, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky is scheduled to attend a meeting of European leaders, providing an opportunity for the American delegation to brief Kyiv on the outcome of its engagement with Moscow.
The planned sequence of meetings reflects Washington's approach of holding separate consultations with Russian and Ukrainian leaders while seeking areas of agreement between their positions. The latest round of diplomacy also follows a period in which US attention shifted towards the conflict involving Iran, contributing to a nine month gap in direct Russia Ukraine negotiations mediated by Washington.
The renewed talks offer a channel for addressing disagreements, but the positions of Moscow and Kyiv remain divided on the conditions for ending the war. While the planned prisoner exchange represents an outcome of the Abu Dhabi negotiations, its implementation and the prospects for a wider agreement remain uncertain.
The outcome of Thursday's Kremlin meeting will be assessed in light of whether the parties can establish a basis for further negotiations on territory, security guarantees and a ceasefire. For now, the two sides have agreed to continue diplomatic engagement without announcing a timetable for a peace settlement.
