Substantive Plans

American envoys discussed "substantive plans" for next steps to end the Ukraine war during their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said, before they headed to Kyiv on Sunday. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow in hopes of reviving negotiations to end Europe's worst conflict since WWII.

"The two sides discussed substantive plans for next steps, which will be announced in the coming weeks, and look forward to equally productive meetings tomorrow in Ukraine," a White House official said. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks "extremely frank", saying the Americans "put forward a number of ideas on possible routes to a settlement".

Putin thanks Trump

The Russian side told the Americans that Moscow was "confident" it could achieve its military goals of seizing the rest of eastern Ukraine. In televised comments, Putin said Russia would ensure the safety of the envoys in Kyiv. "We will do everything that depends on us to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators such as yourselves," Putin told them.

It was Kushner and Witkoff's eighth visit to Moscow during the war -- but their first in the Ukrainian capital. Russian TASS reported they arrived in Rzeszow, Poland on their way to Kyiv. Ukrainian airspace has been closed since 2022 and visiting leaders have arrived by train. Trump said his envoys were bringing a "proposal" to end fighting. "We have an idea for peace," he said.