On January 22, Moscow welcomed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, for critical negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin's official position highlighted a strong appreciation for the American diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving peace but stopped short of endorsing any immediate breakthroughs.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the two U.S. envoys would arrive in Moscow in the late afternoon, between 1600 and 1700 GMT, to engage in discussions concerning the Ukrainian conflict and related issues. Following the meeting, the Kremlin announced plans to provide a briefing to update on the talks.
Earlier in the day, Witkoff expressed optimism regarding the negotiations, stating that the parties had made substantial progress and that only one remaining point stood between the sides and a potential agreement. When pressed about whether the Kremlin shared this positive outlook, Peskov declined to comment on the precise status of the negotiations, emphasizing discretion during this delicate pre-meeting period.
Nonetheless, Peskov stressed that President Putin holds in high regard the peacemaking efforts of President Trump and his team, including Special Envoy Witkoff. He further stated that these initiatives are welcomed and considered effective from the Russian perspective, underscoring the Kremlin’s recognition of the U.S. role in diplomatic engagement even as specific negotiation details remain confidential.