US envoys meet Putin: What’s behind latest diplomacy on Russia-Ukraine war?

What the report says

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of a renewed Trump administration push to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Al Jazeera. The talks took place on Saturday and were followed by plans for the pair to travel to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Al Jazeera reported that the Kremlin described the Moscow meeting as useful and constructive, while Putin said the issue was not simple.

The article said the delegation was bringing a new proposal from President Donald Trump, though the precise contents of the plan were not disclosed. Ukrainian and Russian positions remain far apart. Al Jazeera noted that Moscow continues to demand limits on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and recognition of Russian control over four regions Russia annexed in 2022, while Kyiv has refused to give up territory.

The trip comes amid continued fighting and recent short ceasefire arrangements intended to allow the envoys to move between capitals. Al Jazeera said the wider diplomatic effort also involves US officials with sanctions expertise, suggesting economic pressure on Russia may be part of the discussions. The report framed the visit as part of a broader attempt to revive stalled diplomacy after previous Trump-Putin talks failed to produce a settlement.

The timing matters because the war remains active, with drone and missile strikes continuing despite the outreach. Al Jazeera also noted skepticism in Ukraine about the envoys’ approach and their perceived closeness to Moscow, underscoring the uncertainty over whether this round of talks can produce a breakthrough.