American envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Moscow for a direct meeting with President Vladimir Putin. This development follows two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, which marked the first significant diplomatic engagement between Ukrainian and Russian officials since early last year. While the talks resulted in a historic prisoner exchange—described by Kushner as the largest of the conflict—the two sides remain deadlocked over the potential involvement of European powers in future peace processes, as Russia continues to express skepticism toward European diplomatic participation.

Despite the ongoing violence on the ground, both sides have described the Abu Dhabi discussions as a positive initial step. Following their visit to the Russian capital, the US delegation plans to travel to Dublin to consult with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The primary objective of these upcoming meetings is to refine potential frameworks for peace and to navigate the complex security demands that have defined this five-year conflict. While Ukraine maintains that a ceasefire must precede discussions on territorial sovereignty, the US is pushing for a broader, long-term security architecture for Europe, even as regional allies express concern over the potential for a lopsided deal that could compromise continental stability.