Trump Envoys Arrive in Moscow to Revive Ukraine Peace Talks
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow to push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Both nations agreed to a temporary halt on airstrikes targeting Moscow and Kyiv during the diplomatic mission.
US President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Saturday as part of a renewed American effort to broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. The delegation is scheduled to travel to Kyiv on Sunday.
Temporary Ceasefire on Capital Cities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is prepared to refrain from launching strikes on Moscow starting immediately, as well as on Sunday and Monday. He added that he expects Russia to reciprocate regarding Kyiv.
Zelensky stated on Telegram:
"I have just spoken with the envoys of the US President. From the moment of this conversation, we are ready to maintain a ceasefire on airstrikes against the cities involved in the negotiation process."
This development follows a report by the Russian news agency Interfax stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day suspension of strikes on Kyiv to coincide with Kushner and Witkoff's visit to Moscow.
Ahead of the trip, Washington requested that Ukraine avoid targeting Moscow while the US delegation is in the Russian capital, and asked Russia to refrain from striking Kyiv during the envoys' visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Diplomatic Hurdles and Deep Divides
The upcoming visit to Kyiv will mark Witkoff and Kushner's first trip to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. The two envoys previously visited Moscow in January to meet with Vladimir Putin, though those US-led contacts yielded no breakthrough. The last round of US-mediated talks took place in February, before escalating tensions with Iran diverted the Trump administration's focus.
Significant gaps remain between Moscow and Kyiv:
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Russia's demands: Ukraine must cede territories claimed by Moscow and abandon its aspirations to join NATO.
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Ukraine's stance: Kyiv rejects these demands, viewing them as terms of surrender.
Western intelligence officials remain skeptical of Putin's willingness to reach an agreement in the near future, assessing that he may attempt to improve Russia's battlefield position before agreeing to any compromises.
