US envoys set for Ukraine talks after meeting Putin in Moscow - bbc.com

**U.S. Envoys Travel to Moscow for Ukraine Peace Talks Following Kremlin Meeting**

*Washington, D.C.* – In a development that underscores the United States’ renewed diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine, two senior American envoys, Robert Witkoff and former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Friday for a series of high‑level discussions with President Vladimir Putin. The delegation’s visit follows a brief encounter between the envoys and the Russian leader at the Kremlin earlier in the week, during which President Putin announced a three‑day suspension of Russian strikes on Kyiv to create a window for dialogue. The trip comes amid a broader U.S. effort, reportedly backed by former President Donald Trump, to explore a negotiated settlement to the conflict that has claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions.

During the Kremlin meeting, the American team presented what Kremlin officials described as “a number of ideas” aimed at de‑escalating the fighting and establishing a framework for a durable peace. While the precise content of the proposals has not been disclosed, officials from the State Department indicated that the ideas include phased cease‑fires, humanitarian corridors, and mechanisms for the safe return of prisoners of war. Putin’s decision to halt Kyiv strikes for three days was framed as a “good‑will gesture” to allow the talks to proceed without the immediate pressure of ongoing artillery bombardments. Both envoys reiterated that the United States remains committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty while also emphasizing the need for a pragmatic path forward that can garner Russian assent.

The diplomatic overture has drawn mixed reactions internationally. NATO allies have expressed cautious optimism, noting that any reduction in hostilities could ease the humanitarian crisis but warning that a credible peace settlement must address Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory and ensure robust security guarantees for Kyiv. In Washington, senior officials have stressed that the talks are exploratory and that any agreement will be contingent on concrete steps from Moscow, including a full withdrawal of forces from occupied regions. The outcome of the three‑day cease‑fire and subsequent negotiations will likely shape the trajectory of the conflict in the coming weeks, with the world watching closely for signs of a breakthrough or further escalation.