Special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner landed in Moscow on Thursday morning for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's presidential envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, greeted the American delegation at Vnukovo Airport.
The Moscow visit follows two days of trilateral discussions among U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators in Abu Dhabi, which marked the first trilateral meetings among the parties since February. In Abu Dhabi, Kushner said negotiators agreed on a major prisoner swap, while delegations discussed Ukrainian security guarantees and broader European security arrangements.
Kushner stated that the delegations aligned on proposals coordinated with Ukraine and European partners to present to the Russian president, while acknowledging that substantial differences remain between the combatants. "In close coordination with Ukraine and our European partners, we have aligned on proposals we will discuss with President Putin in Moscow tomorrow, followed by consultations with President Zelenskyy," Kushner said. Major sticking points in the talks remain the future of Russian-held territory, foreign security guarantees for Kyiv, Ukraine's push to join NATO, and limits on the size and capabilities of the Ukrainian military.
Diplomatic Consultations and Air Strikes
Following their meetings in Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner plan to fly to Dublin on Thursday to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit.
The diplomatic push occurred alongside overnight air strikes in both countries. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 123 drones alongside ballistic, cruise, and anti-ship missiles, with Ukrainian air defenses downing or suppressing 89 drones and five cruise missiles. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a drone strike in the Solomianskyi district killed one person and wounded seven. Russia's Defense Ministry stated that it intercepted 71 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, prompting flight suspensions at two Moscow airports.
President Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian units have faced speed caps of 100 miles per hour on SpaceX's Starshield satellite network along the frontline, asserting that the limit disconnects terminals moving above that velocity and complicates interception of incoming jet-powered drones.
