Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, senior figures in former President Donald Trump’s inner circle, flew to Kyiv on Saturday after holding a three‑hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The White House described the Moscow talks as "substantive" and said the pair were there to explore "next steps" toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Meeting in Moscow
The Kremlin hosted the Trump‑appointed envoys at the Kremlin, where Putin reportedly ordered a temporary pause in Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital before the discussion began. According to the BBC, the pause was intended to create a "calm environment" for the talks.
"President Putin ordered a pause in strikes on Kyiv ahead of the meeting with the US envoys," the BBC reported.
During the session, which multiple outlets described as lasting about three hours, the participants exchanged views on a peace framework that had been floated by Trump in previous weeks. The New York Times noted that the discussion covered "substantive plans" for a cease‑fire and a possible political settlement, though no specific terms were disclosed.
White House officials, while emphasizing that the meeting did not constitute official US policy, said the dialogue reflected Trump’s personal initiative to revive stalled negotiations. Axios reported that the White House spokesperson called the talks "constructive" but cautioned that any agreement would still require approval from the broader US administration and its allies.
Trip to Kyiv
After leaving Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian officials welcomed the visit but reiterated that any peace proposal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. France 24 quoted a Kyiv spokesperson as describing the envoys’ arrival as "a significant development, but one that must be assessed within the larger diplomatic context."
In Kyiv, the Trump envoys are expected to present the ideas discussed with Putin and to gauge Zelenskyy’s response. According to the Financial Times, the meeting will also involve senior Ukrainian officials and may include discussions on humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges, and the status of occupied territories.
Reactions in Washington were mixed. The Washington Post noted that senior Biden administration officials viewed the initiative with skepticism, stressing that any cease‑fire must be part of a coordinated multilateral effort. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers praised the outreach as a potential breakthrough, as reported by NBC News.
Analysts remain divided on the likely impact of the talks. France 24’s correspondent described the situation as "a bad sign" for the peace process, warning that parallel tracks could undermine coordinated diplomatic pressure on Moscow. By contrast, DW suggested the engagement could open a "new window" for dialogue, provided it is integrated with existing NATO and EU initiatives.
Both envoys have said they will report back to Trump and to their contacts in Washington after the Kyiv meetings. No concrete timeline for a formal peace proposal has been announced, and the Biden administration has not indicated whether it will endorse or incorporate the ideas discussed. The next steps are expected to unfold over the coming days as Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington assess the substance of the conversations.
