Kushner and Trump Envoy Expected in Moscow Soon, Kremlin Says

A visit to Russia by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of the US president, and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is expected in the near future, according to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The trip would continue ongoing discussions between Moscow and Washington.

Ushakov told journalists that the United States has not abandoned the topic of a Ukrainian settlement, pointing to active telephone contacts between the two capitals as evidence. He stressed that prospects for new steps in resolving the conflict would only emerge after Ukrainian forces withdraw.

Withdrawal Conditions and Negotiation Stalemate

The Kremlin aide warned that even dozens of rounds of talks would leave the Ukrainian settlement frozen if Kyiv does not pull its armed forces from Donbas. He insisted that Kyiv understands the necessity of withdrawing its troops from eastern Ukraine and will eventually do so.

Ushakov also accused Ukraine, backed by Europe, of refusing to take what he called the reasonable step of pulling its forces out of Donbas territory.

Ceasefire Agreement Reached

In a related development, Ushakov noted that an agreement on a ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day was reached through difficult negotiations.