Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow to discuss resolution of Ukraine conflict

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Trump, as the White House renewed efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Witkoff arrived with an updated version of a 28-point peace proposal initially introduced by Trump in mid-November, which is considered largely favorable to Moscow. The revised plan was developed by U.S. officials in consultation with Ukrainian and European diplomats.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated that the meeting, planned for approximately 5 p.m. local time, would continue "as long as necessary." However, with recent gains by Russian forces on the battlefield, Moscow has signaled confidence that it could achieve its objectives regardless of the negotiations. This visit marks Witkoff's sixth trip to the Kremlin in ten months. It followed inconclusive U.S.-Ukraine talks in Miami over the weekend, which participants described as constructive but in need of further work to resolve remaining issues.

Emboldened by battlefield successes, including reported captures of the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk in Donetsk and Vovchansk in Kharkiv after prolonged sieges, Putin has maintained firm demands, signaling that Trump and his team would need to exert additional pressure on Ukraine. Putin has also leveraged a corruption scandal involving Ukrainian officials close to President Volodymyr Zelensky, including his chief negotiator Andriy Yermak, who resigned last Friday.

Russia's demands include ceding control of parts of the Donbas region, halting any path toward NATO membership, reducing Ukraines military capabilities, and adopting Russian language, culture, and the Russian Orthodox Church in disputed areas. Analysts have tempered expectations for the Witkoff-Kushner mission. Political expert Ilya Grashchenkov noted that "the main expectations likely boil down to maintaining a high-level communication channel during this crisis period," which is considered key to avoiding escalation.

Last week, Putin reiterated that the conflict would end only if Ukrainian forces withdrew from occupied territories, warning that Russia would enforce removal by military means if necessary. Kiev, however, denied the fall of Pokrovsk. During a highly publicized visit to the frontlines on Sunday, Putin criticized Zelenskys administration as a "thieving junta," showing little intention of compromising in peace talks.

While Grashchenkov suggested that Russia's economic difficulties might eventually pressure Putin to negotiate, senior analyst Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center observed that Putin is relying on the possibility that Ukraine could lose Western support as it loses more territory, strengthening Russias strategic position.

Author: Sophia Brooks