Russia-Ukraine War: US Envoys Set for Ukraine Talks After Meeting Putin in Russia
BBC News reports on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and recent developments:
Two US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday following productive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on ending the war. According to White House sources, they discussed "substantive plans for next steps" during their three-hour meeting, which was held behind closed doors.
This trip marks the first time the US President Donald Trump's top negotiators will visit Ukraine's capital. The talks come amidst heightened tensions, as Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a temporary halt in strikes on each other's capitals for three days.
Zelensky expressed his readiness for "a substantive conversation" as Witkoff and Kushner negotiated in Moscow. Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as "constructive and extremely frank," covering various economic matters and potential joint Russian-American projects. He also noted that the meeting addressed Russia's military advances and the "root causes of the conflict."
Despite Russia's recent intensification of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, their ground forces have made minimal progress, with Russia currently controlling around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
The envoys' travel plans from Moscow to Kyiv are uncertain due to Ukraine's closed airspace. The talks are significant as Zelensky aims to protect his country from aerial attacks and Kushner and Witkoff seek to advance peace negotiations.