US Envoys Discuss ‘Substantive Plans’ With Putin to Advance Ukraine Peace Efforts
Kremlin says US envoys presented several ideas for a possible settlement after “extremely frank” talks with Putin
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed what the White House described as “substantive plans” for the next steps toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, before traveling to Kyiv on Sunday for further negotiations.
Witkoff, a business associate of US President Donald Trump, and Trump’s son-in-law Kushner met Putin on Saturday as Washington seeks to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
“The two sides discussed substantive plans for next steps, which will be announced in the coming weeks,” a White House official said in a statement to AFP, adding that the US delegation was looking forward to “equally productive meetings” in Ukraine.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “extremely frank” and said the American envoys presented several ideas regarding possible routes toward a settlement. He did not provide details of the proposals.
Ushakov also said Russia remained confident that it could achieve its military objectives, including seizing the remaining parts of eastern Ukraine that Moscow claims as its war aims.
The visit marks the eighth time Witkoff and Kushner have traveled to Moscow during the war, but their trip to Kyiv will be their first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was expecting the US envoys in Kyiv on Sunday. Russia’s TASS news agency reported earlier that Witkoff and Kushner had arrived in Rzeszow, Poland, en route to the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since the start of Russia’s military operation, forcing foreign leaders and senior officials visiting Ukraine to travel by train.
Putin Thanks Trump for Peace Efforts
Ahead of his meeting with the US delegation, Putin said Russia would take steps to ensure the safety of the envoys during their trip to Kyiv.
“We will do everything that depends on us to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators such as yourselves,” Putin told Witkoff and Kushner.
Putin also thanked Trump for continuing his efforts to end the war, acknowledging that the diplomatic process was difficult.
“No matter what happens next, contacts of this kind are undoubtedly always beneficial,” Putin said regarding the planned visit to Kyiv.
Trump said Friday that his envoys were carrying a proposal aimed at ending the fighting, but provided few details about the plan.
“We have an idea for peace,” Trump said.
Previous US diplomatic efforts have failed to produce a breakthrough, while negotiations have been further complicated by Washington’s ongoing war with Iran.
Russia currently controls large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, while Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to capture the remaining parts of eastern Ukraine.
Moscow, Kyiv Agree to Limited Truce
As the US envoys traveled between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia and Ukraine agreed to temporarily suspend strikes on each other’s capitals to facilitate the diplomatic process.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight.
Zelensky separately said Ukraine would refrain from striking Moscow during the same period.
“From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow,” Zelensky said.
Despite the limited understanding, Russian attacks continued elsewhere in Ukraine. Zelensky said Russian strikes killed 10 people across the country on Saturday, including a child and family members in the Kharkiv region and two people near Kyiv.
Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt the US delegation’s visit through overnight attacks targeting Kyiv’s two airports and other civilian sites.
The latest diplomatic push comes as both Washington and Kyiv face pressure to translate renewed contacts with Moscow into a concrete framework for ending the war, now in its fifth year.