US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow Ahead of Ukraine Talks in Dublin
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff travel to Russia and Ireland to push for a European security deal, following initial talks in Abu Dhabi.
By Samuel Hayes ·
US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, November 12. The meeting is part of Washington's ongoing mediation efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The diplomatic push began earlier this week in Abu Dhabi. Russian and Ukrainian officials met with US mediators there for the first time since February. Those talks concluded on Wednesday. Kushner described the exchanges as pretty tough discussions. A source told Axios that the atmosphere started tense but became more constructive after both sides presented their positions.
The envoys will renew President Donald Trump's request for Russia to propose a new security agreement with Europe. The proposed arrangement aims to reduce tensions between Russia and other European nations. This approach marks a shift from previous US positions. Washington had earlier opposed Russian demands to lower NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe. Many European governments currently distrust the administration's strategy for a potential deal.
Following the Moscow meeting, Kushner and Witkoff are expected to travel to Dublin that same night. They plan to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This rapid transit between capitals highlights the intensity of the current negotiation phase.
President Trump has expressed confidence in the process. Speaking to reporters, he noted that both sides are tired of fighting. He pointed to strong willingness on both sides to end the conflict. Trump also mentioned a private meeting last week with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy. He suggested that an agreement could be reached soon and that the settlement might involve all of Europe.
A US official told Reuters that negotiations will require time. The official expressed cautious optimism that progress is possible. Both sides are privately indicating some scope for compromise. Any agreement on territory is likely to come near the end of negotiations. That would occur after other matters, such as postwar security arrangements, are settled.
The upcoming meetings in Moscow and Dublin continue the administration's work since Trump took office in 2025. He pledged to help bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end during his campaign. The current itinerary represents the latest step in that effort.
