U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Thursday to meet with President Vladimir Putin. This meeting follows two days of negotiations in Abu Dhabi, where U.S.-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations concluded without a significant breakthrough, despite an agreement on a large prisoner exchange. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the talks with cautious optimism, acknowledging the exchange as a positive step while firmly stating that Ukraine will not concede any occupied territory in return for peace.

Upon arrival at Vnukovo Airport, Witkoff and Kushner were greeted by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The visit marks the first direct engagement of its kind since February and comes amid concerns in European capitals regarding potential concessions made by the Trump administration to Moscow. Kushner expressed hope for progress on humanitarian relief and the inclusion of European nations in the peace talks, a multilateral approach that Russia has historically resisted. He emphasized the need for clarity on post-conflict security arrangements, which he believes should involve European countries, the European Union, and NATO.S2

The discussions in Abu Dhabi, which lasted less than two hours, yielded mixed results, with some mutual understanding reached but significant differences remaining. Senior Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky indicated that while there was progress in certain areas, the overall positions of the two sides had not shifted dramatically. Ukrainian negotiators, however, reported advancements on security matters, highlighting the complex dynamics at play as both sides continue to grapple with the ongoing conflict.S3

As the envoys prepare for their discussions with Putin, they are also set to travel to Dublin to meet with Zelenskyy. This next step is crucial as Zelenskyy seeks to ensure that any future negotiations do not compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity. The ongoing conflict, which has persisted for nearly five years, remains fraught with challenges, particularly regarding the role of European nations in peace talks and the need for a ceasefire before any discussions on security arrangements can begin.S1S2