U.S. negotiators arrived in Moscow on Thursday to hold talks with Russian officials over the ongoing Ukraine crisis, according to Russian media reports. The delegation, led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, aims to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that contacts had been planned with the U.S. team. “Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz spoke over the phone on Wednesday,” Peskov said. “Certain information was provided to Russia during the conversation.”
Peskov noted that President Vladimir Putin might participate in an international phone call on Thursday evening, hinting at the possibility of further discussions. “We do not rule out other contacts,” he added.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow is closely monitoring the recent meeting between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “We have reviewed their joint statement,” Zakharova said. “Russia is ready to discuss the proposals with the United States, possibly as soon as today.”
Earlier this week, Ukraine signaled its readiness to accept a U.S. proposal for an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire following talks with a U.S. delegation in Jeddah. The joint statement released after the meeting mentioned that the truce could be extended by mutual agreement.
“The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,” the statement said, emphasizing the importance of cooperation from all parties involved.
