Kremlin Confirms Tentative Moscow Visit by U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff Amid Intensified Peace Effort

The Kremlin said a preliminary understanding has been reached for U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff to travel to Moscow next week, underscoring Washington’s latest drive to broker a settlement in the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

Yury Ushakov, chief foreign-policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, told state television that he expects Witkoff—“and possibly other members of the American team working on the Ukrainian dossier”—to hold discussions in the Russian capital. Ushakov added that, if the trip proceeds, Witkoff will “definitely” meet directly with Putin.

Leaked Call Adds Tension

The announcement followed publication of excerpts of a purported telephone conversation between Witkoff and Ushakov, released by Bloomberg, in which the American envoy seemed to advise Moscow on framing its peace proposal for U.S. audiences. Ushakov did not dispute the authenticity of the recording but said he would not discuss private talks and argued the disclosure was intended “to hinder” the ongoing diplomatic track. He denied Russian involvement in the leak, remarking that “someone is listening in, but it’s not us.”

White House Backs Trip Despite Questions

President Donald Trump confirmed to reporters that Witkoff is preparing to visit Russia and said his son-in-law Jared Kushner may take part. Asked whether Witkoff is overly sympathetic to Russian objectives, Trump replied that effective negotiations require each side to understand the other’s demands. “He has to sell this to Ukraine, and he has to sell Ukraine to Russia,” the president said, characterizing the approach as “standard negotiation.”

Trump reiterated his view that ending hostilities would benefit both countries, cautioning that Russia possesses larger manpower reserves and suggesting the conflict could otherwise drag on for years. He acknowledged the complexity of potential land swaps and said European nations are involved in shaping future security guarantees for Kyiv.

Peace Blueprint Narrowed to 19 Points

Over the weekend, American, European and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva to adjust a U.S. draft peace plan that initially contained 28 provisions. Participants trimmed the document to 19 points, according to a Ukrainian official. Both U.S. and Ukrainian delegates described the talks as productive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists the Geneva meetings produced a “framework” and said Kyiv is prepared to “move forward together—with the United States, with personal engagement of President Trump, and with Europe.” A senior U.S. official later said that Ukraine had agreed to the revised 19-point outline, with only minor technical details still under discussion.

After Geneva, American representatives met with Russian and Ukrainian envoys in Abu Dhabi. A source familiar with those talks confirmed Ukraine’s acceptance of the 19-point text had already occurred in Switzerland.

Imagem: Internet

Moscow Signals Caution

The Kremlin has not issued a formal response to the latest draft. Ushakov stated that the document “was passed on to us” but has yet to be examined in depth. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned that any deviation from understandings reached between Trump and Putin in Anchorage last August would create “a fundamentally different situation.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters it remains “too early to say” whether the parties are close to agreement.

Conflict Continues on the Ground

While diplomats negotiate, fighting persists. Ukrainian officials reported six fatalities after Russian missiles struck Kyiv on 25 November, an attack that highlighted the urgency of securing a cease-fire. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the war has caused thousands of civilian deaths and displaced millions since February 2022.

Next Steps

Details of Witkoff’s itinerary have not been released, and the U.S. delegation’s composition could change before departure. Should the visit occur, it would mark the highest-level face-to-face contact between Washington and Moscow since the Anchorage summit. Both sides have indicated that substantial gaps remain, particularly on territorial questions and long-term security guarantees, but officials involved in the process frame the upcoming meeting as a necessary step toward testing the viability of the 19-point proposal.

Separately, Zelenskyy said he is willing to meet Trump “to discuss sensitive points” once negotiators make further progress. No date has been set for such a meeting.

Crédito da imagem: Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters