In Moscow, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Enjoyed Caviar, Crabs and Chebureks

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin challenged American assumptions about the Russian capital after US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff expressed astonishment at the city’s modern appearance during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

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Installation of the longest New Year's arch in Moscow

Sobyanin Questions America’s Image of Moscow

Speaking on the television channel Moskva 24, Sobyanin said he was puzzled by the surprise shown by the visiting American delegation. He wondered why some in the United States imagine Moscow as a neglected or crumbling metropolis.

"Why do they think we are supposed to live in some deprived, ruined city? Where do they get this from?" Sobyanin asked.

He suggested that the reaction reflected the broader level of understanding Americans have about present-day Moscow. Yet, he emphasized that international impressions matter far less to the city’s government than the views of Muscovites themselves.

Witkoff Calls Moscow 'Magnificent City'

During his meeting with Putin inside the Kremlin, Witkoff described Moscow as a “magnificent city,” praising his walk through the city center. The Russian president, in turn, remarked that the capital’s authorities take pride in the long-term transformation of the city.

This was not the envoy’s first visit. Earlier this year, Witkoff strolled through Zaryadye Park and famously tried the oversized “La Grande” cheburek. His return visit brought new culinary discoveries.

From Chebureks to Posikunchiki

On this occasion, Witkoff sampled crab-filled posikunchiki at Savva restaurant. The dish, a smaller Ural cousin of the traditional cheburek, captured his attention and quickly became a talking point of the evening.

The hospitality extended beyond fried pastries. In honor of the visiting delegation, which included US presidential adviser Jared Kushner, the table featured an elaborate spread: red, black and pike caviar; crab and scallops; dried venison and beef; herring; potatoes; and Siberian mushrooms.

A Diplomatic Visit Colored by Impressions

While the American envoys were in Moscow for high-level discussions, their reactions to the city itself — from its architecture to its cuisine — became a parallel story. For Sobyanin, the moment was an opportunity to highlight how much the capital has changed and to question why outdated images persist abroad.