U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine

What This is

• U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to discuss a Trump-backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine.
• After Moscow, the envoys are expected to travel to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discuss the same proposal.
• Trump said the envoys were carrying a new peace plan but did not publicly share details, and Putin signaled the situation remained difficult.
• Russian officials repeated that any deal must reflect Moscow’s terms, including territorial demands and limits on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, which Ukraine and its European partners have rejected.
• Some reporting describes Witkoff as a frequent go-between with the Kremlin, raising questions about how the channel is run and who is involved in the talks.

Why This Matters

• Direct U.S. talks with Putin and Zelensky can change what each side thinks Washington will back next.
• A limited “don’t hit the capitals” pause shows whether either side can follow even a narrow restraint deal.
• If peace terms include land swaps or NATO limits, it could split Ukraine from key partners and set a wider example about borders changed by force.
• Backchannel-style diplomacy raises trust and accountability concerns, because it can sideline allies and make it harder to verify what was promised.