Moscow Talks: Witkoff and Kushner Arrive to Brief Putin on Ukraine Ceasefire Framework

Moscow talks begin as Witkoff and Kushner brief Putin on Ukraine ceasefire progress before flying to Dublin to update Zelensky on next steps.

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Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Thursday for direct talks with President Vladimir Putin, the highest-level American engagement with the Kremlin since trilateral negotiations resumed in Abu Dhabi earlier this week. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev met the two Americans at Vnukovo Airport, according to Russian state media, before the convoy departed for the Kremlin.

The Moscow talks follow two days of US-mediated negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in the UAE capital, the first such trilateral sessions since February. Kushner described the Abu Dhabi discussions as "very substantial" though "quite complex," with progress in some areas and unresolved differences in others.

What the Envoys Are Carrying

Kushner said the primary objective in Moscow is to broaden the negotiating framework and secure Russian agreement to European participation in a multilateral peace format. Moscow has previously resisted European involvement, arguing that European capitals have not presented concrete peace proposals. But Kushner indicated Washington sees openings worth pursuing.

"Steve and I are going to travel to Moscow tomorrow to meet with President Putin to go over what was discussed today and to try to make more progress on some of the issues that we discussed because we see some openings and some opportunities there," Kushner said in Abu Dhabi before the flight.

The envoys also carry a humanitarian deliverable: Kushner said the parties agreed in Abu Dhabi to the largest prisoner release of the conflict, with final numbers to be confirmed. The exact scale and timing remain undisclosed.

If the prisoner exchange is the only concrete outcome of two days of talks, what exactly is being negotiated beyond the humanitarian track?

The Dublin Briefing and Zelensky's Expectations

After Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner will fly to Dublin to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is attending the European Political Community summit hosted by Ireland's EU presidency. Zelensky said he expects "very concrete" answers on security guarantees, the format for any ceasefire, and the scale of the prisoner exchange.

Zelensky framed the moment as a "window of opportunity" before the end of the year, citing political changes that may follow European elections in 2027 and shifts in US politics. He welcomed what he described as a change in Washington's tone on European participation in negotiations, saying the US now approaches the question "more positively and warmly."

The Obstacles That Remain

The core disputes are unchanged. Russia's lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said after Abu Dhabi that "in some areas, we reached a mutual understanding. In others, we did not."  Ukraine's negotiator Davyd Arakhamia described the sessions as "one of the toughest" since 2022, saying Russia arrived with "very strict directives."

Territorial questions, particularly the Donbas, remain the central impasse. Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov rejected the European proposal for a ceasefire before broader security discussions, calling it a ploy to allow Ukraine to recover military losses.

The Moscow talks will test whether Putin is prepared to move beyond the humanitarian track. The Dublin briefing will determine whether Zelensky sees enough in the American report to sustain the negotiating process. Neither outcome is assured.

FAQ:

Q: Who traveled to Moscow?
A: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met by Kirill Dmitriev at the airport.

Q: What is the purpose of the Moscow talks?
A: To brief Putin on Abu Dhabi negotiations and push for European participation in a peace format.

Q: Where do the envoys go next?
A: Dublin, to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the Moscow discussions.

Q: What was agreed in Abu Dhabi?
A: The largest prisoner exchange of the conflict, with numbers still being finalized.

Q: Has Russia agreed to European involvement?
A: Not yet, Moscow has resisted but Kushner sees openings for a multilateral format.

Q: What remains unresolved?
A: Territorial questions, especially the Donbas, and the sequencing of ceasefire versus security guarantees.