Kushner and Witkoff Set for Moscow Talks With Putin After Abu Dhabi Round

A Diplomatic Push Continues

American envoys are preparing to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow, extending a diplomatic effort that began with two days of discussions in Abu Dhabi. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to travel to the Russian capital on Thursday, after which they plan to continue their work with Ukrainian leadership.

What Emerged From Abu Dhabi

The talks brought together Russian, Ukrainian and American officials, marking the first three-way engagement among the parties since February. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed on Telegram that the second day had begun, with a session involving the three countries to be followed by a separate meeting with European partners. Kushner described an agreement on a major prisoner exchange, calling it the largest of its kind, although neither side has revealed how many people will be released. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterised the first day as very productive but offered no specifics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who did not take part in the sessions, said the discussions had touched on humanitarian and security questions and that a possible summit between the three countries’ leaders had come up.

Still Far Apart on Core Issues

Despite the upbeat tone from Washington and Kyiv, no significant compromise on the central disputes has been announced. Russia holds roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, and control of land remains a major sticking point. Moscow has also pressed for Ukraine to adopt neutral status and to stay out of NATO, while the shape of future security guarantees for Kyiv is still unsettled.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said there was good momentum but acknowledged that some matters would remain confidential. Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said talks would continue, while questioning the value of bringing European governments into the process, arguing they had yet to offer a concrete peace proposal.

The European Question

Kyiv has pushed for its main European allies to play a larger role in any settlement. Officials from Britain, France, Germany and Italy, along with representatives of NATO and the European Union, travelled to Abu Dhabi to hold talks on the margins. Kushner said the question of expanding the negotiating format to include Europeans would be raised during his meeting with Putin.

Background

The conflict is approaching its fifth year, having become the deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Kushner and Witkoff have framed their next steps as an effort to build on openings identified in Abu Dhabi, with Dublin’s European summits providing the backdrop for their stop in Ireland.