U.S. Envoys Discuss Real Plans With Putin to End the War in Ukraine

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow seeking to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, then met Vladimir Putin before continuing toward Kyiv.

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The two sides discussed realistic plans for further steps, which will be announced in the coming weeks, and hope that tomorrow’s meetings in Ukraine will be no less productive.

A White House official told AFP that the meeting focused on making progress on Donald Trump’s plans for peace. “The two sides discussed realistic plans for further steps, which will be announced in the coming weeks, and hope that tomorrow’s meetings in Ukraine will be no less productive,” the official said.

Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the discussions “extremely frank” and said the American envoys had presented several proposals for possible solutions. He gave no further details. Ushakov also said Russia had told the Americans that Moscow was “confident” it could achieve its military objectives, including capturing the remaining parts of eastern Ukraine.

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Extremely frank

Russia and Ukraine pledged not to attack each other’s capitals for three days to create conditions for the talks. It was the eighth wartime visit to Moscow by Kushner and Witkoff, but their first trip to Kyiv, a city that has endured Russian strikes throughout the conflict. Russia’s TASS news agency reported that the pair reached Rzeszow, Poland, on their way to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected to receive them on Sunday.

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We will do everything within our power to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators like you.

Ukraine’s airspace has been closed since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, so visiting leaders travel by train. Putin said Russia would ensure the envoys’ safety in Kyiv and told them, “We will do everything within our power to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators like you.” He also thanked Trump for continuing efforts to end the war, saying it was “not simple.” Trump said on Friday that his envoys were carrying a proposal to halt hostilities and added, “We have an idea for achieving peace.” The report says U.S. efforts have not yet produced a breakthrough, while peace talks stalled amid Washington’s war with Iran. It ends while describing Russia’s occupation of large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine and Putin’s stated intention to seize more territory.

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We have an idea for achieving peace.