US envoy signals fresh Russia-Ukraine peace talks after meetings

A senior U.S. negotiator has raised the prospect of renewed three-way peace talks after meetings in Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend. Steve Witkoff said the discussions made “substantive progress,” including movement toward scheduling additional negotiations involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

Witkoff traveled with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and negotiating partner. Their appearance in Kyiv on Sunday marked their first visit to the Ukrainian capital. A senior Ukrainian official said the pair had brought new and “more effective” proposals for ending the war.

Yet the diplomatic signal came alongside a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said the fighting appeared likely to continue into the winter. The Kremlin, meanwhile, did not rule out three-way talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Moscow and Kyiv last met in February for U.S.-organized negotiations in Geneva. Those discussions failed to produce an agreement on territorial issues. Washington-led diplomatic efforts have slowed in recent months as the Trump administration shifted its focus toward the war with Iran.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The United Nations says at least 15,000 civilians have died, while cautioning that the actual number is likely considerably higher.

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Substantive progress was made, including movement on scheduling additional trilateral talks.