Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to visit Moscow following Ukraine talks

Representatives for Donald Trump are heading to Russia to speak directly with President Vladimir Putin following negotiations in the United Arab Emirates that concluded without a definitive agreement to halt the war in Ukraine.

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, stated alongside Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that the pair would travel to Moscow to review matters raised during the discussions. Speaking at a press briefing in Abu Dhabi, Kushner stated that he and Witkoff plan to meet with the Russian president to build on potential openings identified during the session.

The diplomatic push in the UAE brought together delegations representing Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow for two days of discussions. Trump has intensified measures aimed at ending the long-running war, though recent moves to offer notable concessions to the Kremlin have caused alarm across European capitals.

Kushner, who serves as a key diplomatic intermediary without occupying a formal government position, indicated that upcoming discussions in Moscow will concentrate on securing prisoner exchanges and humanitarian support. The American team also hopes to encourage Russia to accept European involvement in future peace efforts, an arrangement the Kremlin has previously opposed.

Following their stop in Moscow, Kushner and Witkoff are scheduled to fly to Dublin for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kushner explained that the delegation intends to update the Ukrainian leader on concepts developed during the talks in the Emirates and review next steps.

Negotiations on Wednesday wrapped up in under two hours, offering minimal sign of a major shift in the Russian position. Chief Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky noted that mutual understanding was attained on selected matters, while disagreements persisted on others, confirming that dialogue would proceed.

On the Ukrainian side, lead negotiator and foreign intelligence head Rustem Umerov expressed gratitude toward the American envoys and highlighted advances regarding security concerns. However, considerable obstacles remain between the warring nations. Davyd Arakhamia, another member of the Ukrainian delegation who has participated in talks since 2022, described the latest round as one of the most demanding yet, observing that Moscow's representatives arrived bound by rigid instructions.