U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived at the Kremlin on Thursday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin following two days of negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi. The meeting comes amid cautious optimism about a possible diplomatic breakthrough before the end of the year, despite persistent disagreements over territory and European security.
The envoys arrived shortly after 1:00 p.m. Moscow time and were expected to travel to Dublin afterward to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin discussions will address potential compromises identified in Abu Dhabi, as well as Washington’s efforts to involve European governments in the negotiating process.
“We see some openings and some opportunities,” Kushner said ahead of the meeting, explaining that the envoys would review the Abu Dhabi discussions with Putin. Zelensky, meanwhile, said he hoped the Americans would return from Moscow “with specifics,” adding that although he remained skeptical, “there is hope.”
The Kremlin meeting follows U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi that produced an agreement in principle on a major prisoner exchange, potentially involving 1,000–1,200 captured soldiers from each side, but no comprehensive peace settlement. Moscow continues to demand Ukrainian territorial concessions and negotiations over Europe’s wider security architecture, while Kyiv insists that a ceasefire precede territorial discussions. Separately, Zelensky reported systematic restrictions on the U.S.-linked Starshield satellite network, alleging that speed limitations were undermining Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones and contributing to deadly strikes. Kyiv is seeking clarification from Washington, while Russian attacks continued overnight, killing one person in Kyiv.
The Kremlin talks will test whether Washington can convert preliminary diplomatic openings into concrete proposals acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv. Russia’s willingness to consider European participation, the sequencing of a ceasefire and security negotiations, and the implementation of the proposed prisoner exchange remain central indicators of whether the process can advance toward a settlement. (AFP+EIR)
