The Kremlin has confirmed a pivotal Thursday rendezvous between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. This development injects fresh momentum into stalled peace efforts surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Putin shared plans during Security Council discussions, right after engaging Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Per TASS, the Americans are in town to sustain dialogue on Ukraine. Putin seeks to brief them on Moscow’s stance, especially after Trump’s Board of Peace invitation.
Witkoff tipped off the visit beforehand, with Kushner joining based on past exposures to Putin-U.S. interactions. Their recent Davos huddle with investment fund head Kirill Dmitriev exceeded two hours, leaving Witkoff optimistic.
Contrast this with Zelenskyy’s stark address to Ukrainians. He insists true peace requires Russia to abandon sabotage—missile barrages, blackouts, nuclear risks—and embrace diplomacy. The energy sector bears the brunt, with 58,000 dedicated workers, including from Ukrzaliznytsia and other firms, battling 24/7 to restore grids and heating amid winter woes.
Observers see this as a litmus test for Trump’s foreign policy. Will Witkoff and Kushner extract concessions? Or reinforce impasses? As global tensions simmer, this Moscow dialogue could herald progress or expose irreconcilable positions in the quest for resolution.