Kremlin Meeting Between Putin, Witkoff and Kushner Marks Crucial Moment for Ukraine Peace

Negotiations between President Vladimir Putin and a United States delegation will begin in the Kremlin after 17:00 Moscow time, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's press secretary said.

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Russia-2007-Moscow-Kremlin Senate at night

Peskov noted that the US side will be represented by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of the American president, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump and his Ukraine negotiator, as well as their interpreter.

According to Peskov, the talks will last "as long as needed.”

The central topic of the meeting will be the bilateral understandings concerning a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Peskov emphasized that "President Putin and Mr. Witkoff will have an opportunity to discuss the agreements reached between Kyiv and Washington regarding possible pathways to settlement.”

Negotiations in Moscow Framed as Pivotal for Peace

Russian officials described the evening talks as a significant moment that could influence the future of Ukraine. Kirill Dmitriev, the president's special representative, said the visit marks "an important day” likely to shape the trajectory of settlement efforts.

"An important day for peace: the team that secured President Trump's peace agreement for Gaza arrives in Moscow to advance Trump's peace agenda for Ukraine.”
— Kirill Dmitriev, special representative of the Russian president

Peskov added that Russian negotiators and the team around Donald Trump had spent "a couple of weeks of very intensive work with the Ukrainian side” ahead of the meeting, with the aim of achieving mutual understanding on key points.

Why Trump Chose Witkoff and Kushner

According to a source from the US Department of State, Donald Trump selected Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner because he favors what the source called "personal diplomacy.” Trump avoids relying on bureaucratic channels and instead trusted close associates or "unconventional negotiators,” as they are referred to in the State Department.

American officials noted that Kushner became part of the Ukraine negotiating team after his involvement — alongside Witkoff — in the effort to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement. Kushner engaged in Ukrainian diplomacy quietly, without public announcements, making it difficult even to pinpoint when his work formally began.