Trump’s Envoys Head to Kyiv After Putin Talks: What Was Discussed in Moscow?

After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin over efforts to end the war in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump’s two top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are now set to travel to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It will be the first visit to the Ukrainian capital by Witkoff and Kushner. US officials say the two envoys are hoping to hold an equally productive meeting in Kyiv following their talks with Putin in Moscow.

The White House said Witkoff and Kushner discussed “specific plans for the next steps” in the effort to end the war during their meeting with Putin on Saturday. They were expected to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday.

The exact details of those plans, however, have not been made public. With diplomatic efforts to end the conflict gaining momentum, an important announcement could come in the coming weeks.

What Was Discussed in Moscow?

Yuri Ushakov, an adviser to Putin, said the meeting between the Russian president and the two US envoys lasted around three hours.

The closed-door meeting was held at Putin’s official residence in central Moscow. Ushakov described the talks as “constructive and very frank.”

According to Ushakov, the discussions went beyond efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. The two sides also discussed economic issues and major Russian-US projects that could potentially be mutually beneficial.

The meeting also covered the situation on the battlefield, including what Ushakov described as the visible progress of Russian forces.

The sides also agreed on the need to address what Russia considers the “root causes” of the conflict, Ushakov said.

However, neither side disclosed details of any specific agreement or breakthrough.

What Could Happen in Kyiv?

While Witkoff and Kushner were meeting Putin in Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to discuss “important issues.”

Putin and Zelenskyy have also agreed to a three-day pause in attacks against each other’s capitals, according to reports. The limited pause could provide some space for diplomatic efforts as negotiations continue.

Despite the diplomatic activity, Russia and Ukraine have intensified their aerial attacks against each other in recent months.

Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have increased, while Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian economic infrastructure, particularly oil facilities.

Situation on the Battlefield

Ukraine says it is struggling to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks because of shortages of interceptor missiles needed to shoot them down.

Russian ground forces, meanwhile, have made slow progress on the battlefield despite suffering heavy casualties, according to various reports.

Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, most of which was captured during the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.

How Will the Envoys Reach Kyiv?

Witkoff and Kushner have visited Russia several times before. However, Russia’s airspace has remained closed since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

That has raised questions about how the two US envoys will travel from Moscow to Kyiv.

With talks now taking place in both Moscow and Kyiv, the Trump administration is seeking a possible path toward ending the war. But major differences between Moscow and Kyiv, along with continued military escalation, mean that reaching a lasting agreement could remain difficult.