Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. He was joined by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, to discuss a peace initiative regarding Ukraine.
Originally, Trump’s plan encompassed 28 points, but after discussions with officials from Ukraine and Europe, it has now been refined to 20 specific actions. Ukrainian representatives indicated they would endorse this updated plan, contingent upon Russia’s agreement and a few outstanding details being resolved.
According to the Kremlin, Putin held a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, along with his foreign policy and economic advisors, Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Tuesday morning that Putin and his team were willing to meet with Witkoff and Kushner for an extended period, beyond the usual diplomatic time limits. This meeting was expected to exceed the typical two to three hours encountered in past encounters.
“There is no doubt that this is a very significant step towards peace and an amicable resolution,” Peskov stated.
Witkoff has been designated as a special envoy for Trump’s second term commencing in February 2025. Their last meeting in August 2025 was described by Trump as “highly productive.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Tuesday that Witkoff was prepared to advance peace talks if there was progress in engagements with Putin.
“Following discussions in Russia, Ukraine is waiting for updates from the U.S. delegation. We expect to be briefed directly after the talks. Our next steps will hinge on those updates,” Zelensky noted.
“We anticipate receiving some indications, and if those indications align favorably with our partners, we could soon meet with the U.S. delegation,” he added.
Abbas Gallyamov, a Russian political analyst and former speechwriter for Putin, commented that despite Putin’s advantageous position, there might be room for compromise towards a ceasefire. However, it’s suggested that any ceasefire may be temporary.
“What’s crucial to recognize is that he can’t afford to sever ties with Trump. That would be disastrous,” Gallyamov remarked.
“If Trump applies enough pressure, Putin could agree to halt the fighting, perhaps planning to regain strength before launching another offensive in the spring,” he further explained.
On Tuesday morning, Putin seemed less open to negotiation. He accused European nations of undermining Trump’s peace initiative and warned he was prepared for conflict if Europe escalated the situation.
“We have repeatedly said we don’t wish to fight Europe, but if they seek conflict, we are ready at any moment,” he declared.
Putin also suggested that even if Tuesday’s meeting with Witkoff went positively, the current sentiments among European countries would prevent them from playing a constructive role in future discussions unless they “acknowledge the realities on the ground” and modify their expectations accordingly.
