U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on November 12, 2026, to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with proposals for a Ukraine peace deal and a broader European security framework. The Kremlin visit follows trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi that produced a major prisoner exchange agreement but no breakthrough on territorial disputes, as Kyiv firmly rejects Russian demands to surrender the Donbas region. Kushner and Witkoff will next travel to Dublin to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
US envoys arrive in Moscow
- ▪Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev greeted U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff upon their arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on November 12, 2026
- ▪The November 12, 2026 meeting in Moscow marks the 10th time U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in person
- ▪U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine peace negotiations
Diplomatic consultations in Dublin
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Dublin for a summit of European leaders
- ▪U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff plan to fly from Moscow to Dublin on November 12, 2026, to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi
- ▪The Abu Dhabi negotiations held on November 10-11, 2026, were the first direct trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and U.S. mediators since February 2026
- ▪U.S.-mediated trilateral peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi concluded on November 11, 2026, with an agreement on a major prisoner-of-war exchange
- ▪U.S. mediator Jared Kushner characterized the Abu Dhabi talks held on November 10-11, 2026, as serious, detailed, and frank, but noted that major differences remain between Russia and Ukraine on territorial questions
Debate over European participation in peace talks
- ▪Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky supported a broader security arrangement with Europe while criticizing European leaders
- ▪Axios reported that U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff urged Moscow to present fresh de-escalation proposals to reassure European nations, while seeking European participation in future negotiation rounds
- ▪Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia stated there was good momentum toward reaching a peace solution by the end of 2026, while emphasizing Europe must be represented in future discussions
Stances on territorial concessions
- ▪Ukraine rejects Russian demands to surrender the entire eastern Donbas region, insisting that territorial concessions are out of the question for a peace settlement
- ▪Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated that territorial exchanges as part of a settlement were out of the question
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