On November 12, 2026, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and businessman Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow, gearing up for crucial discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their trip follows a two-day negotiation between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, mediated by the United States.
The peace process between Russia and Ukraine has faced significant stagnation this year, making the recent discussions vital. Kushner and Witkoff were instrumental in facilitating this meeting, marking the first direct dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian officials in nine months.
The negotiations concluded on November 11, when an agreement was reached for a large-scale prisoner exchange, although the specific numbers involved are yet to be finalized. However, the talks did not lead to any substantial breakthroughs regarding the nearly five-year-long conflict between the two nations.
Following the negotiations, Kushner and Witkoff headed to the Kremlin to meet with Putin.
One of Kushner’s objectives for this visit is to seek Putin’s approval for a European representative to join discussions about security arrangements on the European continent.
Both the United States and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hope that Europe will appoint a representative to engage directly with Moscow in these negotiations.
Currently, Russia is resistant to European nations participating in direct talks, claiming that European financial and military support to Ukraine hinders the possibility of reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, European countries express deep concerns regarding Russia’s actions on the continent and their broader intentions.
Kushner indicated that after the meeting with Putin, he and Witkoff would be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, on the night of November 12 to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy is attending the European Political Community Summit there, which gathers leaders from over 40 European nations, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
As winter approaches, fighting continues unabated along the front lines between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. has noted that significant differences remain between the two sides on key issues such as territory, indicating that the road to peace is still a long and challenging one.