Putin Signals Fresh Talks On Ukraine As US Envoys Head To Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Moscow will host fresh discussions on the Ukraine conflict, as he prepares to meet United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and entrepreneur Jared Kushner.

The talks are expected to take place later on Thursday, according to Russian media reports.

Addressing a meeting of permanent members of Russia’s Security Council, Putin said the meeting with the US representatives would follow his scheduled discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Kremlin leader stated that Witkoff and Kushner would visit Moscow to continue dialogue on a possible settlement to the Ukraine war.

Putin said the discussions would also cover Russia’s potential participation in Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, a new diplomatic platform aimed at bringing world leaders together to resolve conflicts more directly. Trump has argued that existing global institutions often fail to act swiftly enough to prevent or end wars.

Witkoff had earlier confirmed his plans to travel to Moscow, noting that Kushner, who was present during a previous round of engagement between Russian and US officials, would accompany him.

Before their Moscow visit, the two met Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a special representative of the Russian president, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20.

Witkoff said the meeting lasted more than two hours and described it as very positive.

Ukraine Voices Scepticism Over Russia’s Intentions

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed scepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy.

He said that if Moscow genuinely sought peace, it would shift focus away from missile strikes, power blackouts and threats to nuclear facilities.

In a national address, Zelensky highlighted the continued pressure on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and said tens of thousands of workers are carrying out round-the-clock repairs to power grids, heating networks and generation facilities.

He said conditions remained particularly challenging in Kyiv and several frontline and border regions due to sustained shelling.

Zelensky also confirmed that Ukrainian officials, including National Security and Defence Council chief Rustem Umerov, had held multiple rounds of talks with representatives of President Trump.

He said officials are drafting documents to end the war and stressed the need to keep Washington fully informed about Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy system.

As diplomatic activity intensifies, observers are closely watching the upcoming Moscow meetings for signs of a shift in momentum towards a negotiated outcome.

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