Steve Witkoff is expected to discuss the settlement of the Ukraine conflict with senior Russian officials
Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, has arrived in Moscow to discuss the settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
The US official’s plane landed in Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Wednesday morning, where he was welcomed by presidential investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who is also the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Shortly after arriving, the two took a stroll in Zaryadye Park in central Moscow near the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said that a face-to-face meeting between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin could not be ruled out.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for “a breakthrough” in negotiations over Ukraine.
Witkoff arrived in Moscow days after Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Russia unless significant progress is made in the settlement process. The US president signaled that the restrictions could include 100% tariffs and secondary sanctions targeting Russia’s trade partners, particularly in the oil sector.
Since Trump’s inauguration, Witkoff has held several rounds of negotiations with Russia. His last visit to the country took place in late April. The talks revolved around the Ukraine conflict, US-Russia prisoner swaps, and bilateral ties.
On Monday, Ukrainian media reported that Witkoff’s visit to Moscow would coincide with talks between US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg and officials in Kiev.
As Trump has repeatedly pushed Russia and Ukraine to work out a peace deal, the countries held three rounds of direct talks in Istanbul in May, June, and late July. While the sides have failed to reach a breakthrough, they agreed to several major prisoner swaps.
Russia insists that a sustainable peace deal must include Ukraine’s commitment to stay out of NATO, demilitarization, and the recognition of the new territorial reality on the ground. Kiev has rejected the terms.
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