US envoys Witkoff and Kushnerwill head to Moscow for fresh talks with Putin on Ukraine after preliminary discussions in Davos are described as “very positive.”
In a major diplomatic push this week, US special envoy
Steve Witkoff said he and Jared Kushner will travel to Moscow on Thursday for fresh discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on finding a pathway toward peace in Ukraine.
The trip—confirmed by both the US envoy and the Kremlin—comes amid ongoing efforts to restart negotiations in earnest after months of stalled diplomacy.
Witkoff told reporters the meeting was requested by the Russians. “Well, look, we have to go meet him on Thursday,” Witkoff said in a televised interview. He also hinted at further US proposals by saying, “I think so” when asked if Putin might eventually join former President Trump’s informal “Board of Peace.”
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Positive signals from Davos, but work remains
Before departing for Moscow, US and Russian envoys met on the sidelines of the
World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss a long‑elusive peace framework for Ukraine. Both sides described that earlier encounter as encouraging. Witkoff characterised their time together as “very positive,” while Russia’s envoy called the dialogue “constructive,” suggesting at least short‑term goodwill between the teams.
However, despite the upbeat language, substantive disagreements are still evident. A peace agreement has not been finalised, and key issues such as territorial control and Ukraine’s sovereignty remain unresolved. European allies have also increasingly voiced concern that any peace