American Diplomatic Delegation Concludes Moscow Talks, Heads to Kyiv for Further Negotiations

While envoys Witkoff and Kushner were engaged in negotiations at the Kremlin, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his readiness for “a substantive conversation.”

The Saturday discussions in Moscow extended for three hours and took place behind closed doors at Putin’s official residence in central Moscow, as reported by Russian state media.

Although specific details are still unfolding, both delegations have offered broadly positive assessments without disclosing concrete particulars.

Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov characterized the discussions as “constructive and exceptionally frank.”

“The discussions extended well beyond a mere exchange of perspectives on resolving the Ukrainian crisis—economic matters and prospective substantial, mutually advantageous Russian-American initiatives were examined in considerable depth,” Ushakov stated.

Ushakov further noted that “acknowledgment was made of the Russian military’s tangible progress in the combat zone” and that there was mutual recognition that negotiations needed to address “the underlying causes of the conflict.”

Despite an intensification of Russian missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Russian ground forces have achieved only marginal territorial gains throughout most of the conflict while sustaining heavy casualties. Russia continues to occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory—areas seized in 2022.

Kushner and Witkoff have traveled to Russia on multiple occasions. However, given that Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the logistics of their transit from Moscow to Kyiv remain unclear.

These negotiations follow a period in which both Russia and Ukraine have escalated their aerial campaigns in recent months.

Ukraine has reported difficulties countering ballistic missile threats due to insufficient interceptor missile supplies, while Kyiv has concentrated its offensive operations on Russian economic infrastructure, particularly oil facilities.

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