US Envoys Meet Putin in Russia, Visit Ukraine Amid Peace Talks

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday, March 12, 2022, in an effort to revive stalled peace talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This meeting occurred amidst an escalation of aerial attacks by both sides. As a measure to facilitate the discussions, Putin ordered a three-day pause on strikes against Kyiv, commencing at midnight on Saturday. Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was prepared to halt strikes on Moscow until Monday, expressing expectations for a reciprocal action from Russia regarding Kyiv. This diplomatic engagement marks a significant step in the peace process, which had reportedly lost momentum due to shifting international focus, particularly on the Iran war over the preceding six months. The U.S. envoys' visit to Moscow followed their last known meeting with Putin at the Kremlin in January. A key development in this round of talks is the planned first-ever visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Sunday, March 13, 2022, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials. During the Moscow meeting, President Putin conveyed his warm wishes and gratitude to former U.S. President Donald Trump and characterized the situation in Ukraine as "not simple." The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced on February 24, 2022. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin's order regarding the cessation of strikes on Kyiv to Russia's Tass news agency. Zelenskyy communicated his readiness to pause strikes on Moscow in a statement made on Saturday afternoon, following the arrival of the U.S. delegation in Moscow. He detailed the proposed three-day ceasefire, covering Saturday through Monday, and emphasized the expectation of a similar commitment from the Russian side. Upon their arrival at the Moscow airport, the U.S. envoys were greeted by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who shared images of the meeting on social media with a welcoming caption. The peace process has been at a standstill, making this renewed diplomatic push particularly noteworthy. The U.S. delegation's itinerary includes high-level discussions in both Moscow and Kyiv, underscoring the U.S. commitment to mediating an end to the conflict.