In a significant diplomatic development, high-level US envoys convened with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Thursday evening to advance discussions on a Washington-proposed framework to conclude the Ukraine conflict. This high-stakes dialogue, occurring simultaneously with Kyiv’s announcement of solidified security guarantees from the United States, represents the most substantial peace negotiation efforts since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
The American delegation featured prominent figures including Steve Witkoff (marking his seventh documented meeting with Putin according to Russian media), former Presidential advisor Jared Kushner, and White House representative Josh Gruenbaum. Kremlin footage depicted a cordial reception with handshakes and smiles, though the underlying tensions remained palpable. Russian representation included lead negotiator Kirill Dmitriev and senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
These negotiations unfold against a backdrop of severely escalated military actions, with recent Russian strikes crippling Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, leaving thousands without electricity and heat during freezing temperatures. Moscow maintains these target Ukraine’s military-industrial capabilities, while Kyiv condemns them as blatant war crimes targeting civilians.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed from the World Economic Forum in Davos that security guarantee agreements with Washington were ‘nearly ready,’ with additional commitments reportedly secured from the United Kingdom and France. Despite these parallel developments, fundamental disagreements persist regarding territorial sovereignty, particularly Russia’s occupation of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory and its demands for complete control of the Donbas region.
Following the Moscow session, the US negotiating team departed immediately for Abu Dhabi to continue discussions within military working groups, though specific participants and agendas for these UAE talks remain undisclosed. President Trump reiterated his conviction that both leaders could reach agreement, while Zelensky delivered sharp criticism of European fragmentation and overreliance on US security protection, highlighting complex transatlantic tensions surrounding the conflict.