Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for US President Donald Trump, has arrived in Moscow for another series of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This trip is part of a larger diplomatic initiative by Washington aimed at advancing a proposed peace plan to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Witkoff has already visited Russia three times in recent months, engaging with high-ranking Russian officials, including Putin. The continuing negotiations highlight a growing commitment from both nations to resolve the hostilities through dialogue.
The proposal from Washington reportedly involves recognizing Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, “freezing” the conflict along the current front lines, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over significant portions of the four former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia. Additionally, the agreement would likely prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and involve a gradual lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia has conveyed its gratitude for Trump’s peace initiatives and has consistently shown willingness to engage in negotiations. However, Russian officials have emphasized that any final peace agreement must acknowledge the existing territorial realities and tackle the underlying causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO.
25 April 2025
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A long, direct meeting as part of shuttle diplomacy is a more effective format of negotiating than phone calls, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia 1 journalist Pavel Zarubin when asked about the methods of negotiation.
”It is indeed shuttle diplomacy, yes,” he said.
”Because it’s always easier to explain all the nuances in a personal conversation. Note that talks with Witkoff take a lot of time, several hours. This is a good opportunity to convey our position to the American side,” Peskov said.
Putin’s talks with Witkoff took place on the 80th anniversary of the historic meeting at the Elbe River of Soviet and American troops, when the two allied armies dealt the forces of Nazi Germany a crushing blow, presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said.
”This meeting is well known to symbolize the military alliance of our two countries in the fight against Nazism,” according to the presidential aide.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has also referred to the symbolism of the date chosen for today’s US-Russian talks.
Putin and Witkoff have discussed the resumption of direct bilateral talks between Moscow and Kiev, presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said.
Russia and Ukraine have not had direct diplomatic contact since Kiev pulled out of the 2022 talks in Istanbul.
Putin and Witkoff spent three hours in “constructive and useful” negotiations which “allowed further alignment of the positions of Russia and the United States not only on Ukraine but also on a number of other international issues,” presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said.
The motorcade presumably carrying Witkoff has left the Kremlin, multiple media outlets have reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev has reshared, with a single dove emoji, a post by PBS Foreign Affairs and Defense Correspondent Nick Shiffrin featuring photographs of Witkoff at today's talks in the Kremlin.
He also posted a video of President Putin warmly welcoming the US envoy to the talks table.
“President Putin meeting @SteveWitkoff in Moscow 🕊️. Making progress,” Dmitriev wrote in a short followup post.
The US has set no deadline for resolving the Ukraine conflict, President Donald Trump has said, adding that he wants the hostilities to end “as fast as possible.”
US President Donald Trump has said he thinks “Russia and Ukraine are coming along,” adding, though, that the peace process is “very fragile.”
The US proposal calls for the lifting of sanctions against Russia imposed by the West after 2014, Reuters has reported.
The European- and Kiev-backed counteroffer instead reportedly insists on “a gradual easing of sanctions after a sustainable peace is achieved” with the possibility of a snapback if Moscow violates the deal.
Their version also proposes financial compensation for damages for Kiev to be sourced from the Russian assets frozen by the West. The US text also mentions compensation but does not elaborate on the source, the article said.
The Witkoff version of the peace agreement proposes that Ukraine have a “robust security guarantee” from European and other Kiev-friendly nations. It also insists that Ukraine will not seek NATO membership, Reuters has reported.
The European- and Ukraine-backed document reportedly provides more details on security guarantees and states there “will be no limits on Ukrainian forces and no restrictions on Ukraine's allies stationing their military forces on Ukrainian soil.”
It also proposes that the guarantees should contain a collective defense clause resembling the one adopted by NATO. Russia has repeatedly rejected the deployment of NATO forces, or troops from bloc members under a “coalition of the willing,” to Ukraine under any pretext.
When it comes to the Russia-Ukraine territorial dispute, Witkoff proposed that the US formally recognize Crimea as part of Russia. His plan also includes an acknowledgement of Moscow’s “de-facto” control over large parts of the other four former Ukrainian regions, according to Reuters. All the regions in question overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in public referendums that were never recognized by Kiev.
However, Ukraine and its European backers reportedly insist on postponing detailed discussions about territorial control until after a ceasefire is concluded. Their version does not mention recognizing Russian control over any Ukrainian territory.
The US has clashed with European nations and Kiev over their vision for a Ukraine peace settlement. The various sides have presented different proposals for ending the conflict, Reuters has reported.
Witkoff and Dmitriev have been seen walking in central Moscow ahead of their visit to the Kremlin, with the two accompanied by an entourage of officials, according to a short clip posted by RT.
Witkoff has also held separate talks with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, TASS has reported, without providing further details.
The Kremlin has released a short clip of Putin cordially greeting Witkoff, with the pair exchanging short remarks in English. According to the video, Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and Russian presidential adviser, Yury Ushakov, are also poised to take part in the talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is receiving US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in the Kremlin for talks over the Ukraine conflict settlement, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed.