US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on November 12 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after two days of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi ended without a broader breakthrough but produced agreement on a large-scale prisoner exchange [2][3][13]. The envoys were greeted by Putin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev before proceeding to the Kremlin for what was expected to be Witkoff's tenth meeting with Putin [3][6][7]. After Moscow, Kushner and Witkoff planned to travel to Dublin to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Political Community summit, where more than 40 European leaders had gathered [4][10][18].
Kushner described the Abu Dhabi talks as «дуже змістовними, хоча й досить напруженими» (very substantive, though quite tense) and said the two sides had agreed on "the biggest humanitarian release of prisoners," with exact numbers to be finalized [18][3][7]. "We see all the different ingredients to make a deal," Kushner said, adding that the envoys saw "openings and some opportunities" for further progress in Moscow [26][21]. Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia called the round "one of the hardest" because Russian delegates arrived with "very strict directives," but said there was "good momentum to bring about a solution before the new year" [4][26]. UAE diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash expressed optimism that the Abu Dhabi-hosted negotiations would yield a positive breakthrough [36], and Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated Ankara's readiness to mediate and host future rounds [45]. Finland's President Alexander Stubb said the main talks would take place in Moscow between Kushner, Witkoff, and Putin [25].
Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky framed the talks as the vehicle for achieving Russia's objectives rather than a basis for compromise. "Every inch of our land will be returned to Russia, one way or another," Medinsky said, rejecting territorial exchanges and saying Russia would be satisfied only after signing a peace treaty on its terms [26][4][29]. Medinsky described the central goal as creating "a new, modern Yalta and Potsdam" security system [9][20]. He praised what he called US pragmatism and realism while dismissing European participation, saying Russia had received "not one concrete proposal from the European countries" [15][9]. Alexey Drobinin, head of foreign policy planning at Russia's foreign ministry, outlined possible bilateral mutual non-aggression pacts with individual NATO member states as part of a new security architecture [19]. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Kremlin officials restated unchanged demands for Ukraine's full capitulation and territorial concessions beyond Donbas, reviving Russia's 2021 security ultimatums [23][16].
Ukraine's negotiators held that the first step must be ending the war and securing guarantees that Russia cannot attack again, with territorial issues addressed only at the leaders' level [4][30]. "The first step — to end the war and ensure security guarantees for Ukraine," said Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov [21][12]. Zelenskyy said Russian negotiators falsely claimed to have occupied half of Donbas that Ukraine controls and that Putin «живе в іншій інформаційній реальності» (lives in a different information reality) [16][23]. At a press conference in Dublin, Zelenskyy rejected pressure to cede territory: "They think that to end this war, we have to leave our territory. It's impossible to talk this way with us, with an independent, sovereign country" [32]. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe would begin discussions on a new security architecture only after the war ends [20].
The US envoys carried to Moscow a proposal that Russia draft a new European security document listing Moscow's concerns and de-escalatory measures, with the condition that European representatives participate in future talks [20][34]. Kushner said the EU and NATO must be part of negotiations on ending the war and urged Europe to choose one representative [29][30]. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that failure to adopt a coordinated European approach would "condemn Europe to irrelevance" [12]. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said «Das heißt, dass Europa an den künftigen Verhandlungen teilnehmen wird» (That means Europe will participate in future negotiations) [17]. Russia's delegation refused any meetings with European representatives at the Abu Dhabi talks, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying no contacts were planned [24]. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the Abu Dhabi talks showed the US, Ukraine, and Europe were "aligned and united" [9][11].
European leaders and analysts questioned whether Moscow was negotiating in good faith. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said "Russia hasn't shown any genuine interest in a peaceful resolution of this conflict" [10]. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said «Пока я не вижу никаких признаков этого» (I see no signs of this yet) regarding Russia entering serious ceasefire negotiations [22]. Hudson Institute senior fellow Matthew Boyce said Russian security services «Чекисты мастерски втягивают иностранцев в бесконечные дискуссии, которые обычно ни к чему не ведут» (masterfully draw foreigners into endless discussions that usually lead nowhere) [22]. Analyst Emil Kastehelmi of the Finnish Black Bird Group argued neither side was «не настолько сильна и не настолько слаба» (strong enough or weak enough) to seriously seek a compromise [22]. An unscientific Radio NV poll found 68% of Ukrainian respondents believed a personal Zelenskyy-Putin meeting would change nothing because Russia only wants capitulation [42].
US Congressional Democrats accused the envoys of working against Ukrainian and American interests. Representative Gregory Meeks said Kushner, Witkoff, and Trump "are working for Putin, not for the benefit of the people of the United States" [32]. Representative Adam Smith said "negotiating away all the pressure from him while undercutting Ukraine has not and will never be successful" [32]. Senator Jack Reed warned that a post-war security agreement eroding NATO's post-Cold War arrangements benefits only Russia [32]. German press commentary framed the Witkoff-Kushner mission as a threat to Poland and the Baltic states, reporting that Russia had returned to demands for pulling NATO forces out of states that joined after 1997 [35].
Military strikes continued on both sides as the diplomacy advanced. Russian forces struck six major power substations in central Ukraine and a market in Chornomorsk that killed at least four people [27][24]. Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow — with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting five drones shot down — as well as the Ust-Luga port and the Omsk refinery [7][27]. A Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Smolensk region killed two people [1]. The Ukrainian General Staff said strikes on Ust-Luga damaged five oil tanks and reduced "oil revenues to the budget of the aggressor country" [27].
Zelenskyy said speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite service along the front line were systematic, not random, and were helping Russia conduct more accurate strikes. "These are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," Zelenskyy said, adding that the limits were "helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians" [33][7]. Trump denied being involved in the decision, while the US government said only Starshield owner Elon Musk could have taken such a decision, and Musk placed responsibility on Trump [33].
Families of captured and missing Ukrainian soldiers described the prisoner exchange agreement as a matter of loved ones' lives. Relatives described attending every exchange with photographs, hoping released prisoners would recognize their missing family members [43]. Nataliia Fedyk, whose husband has been held in Russian captivity since 2023, said three children were waiting for him at home [43]. Vitalii Shapovalov reported paying 20,000 hryvnias to scammers who promised contact with his missing relative and never delivered [43]. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters representative Petro Yatsenko said «Українська сторона завжди була готова до обмінів» (The Ukrainian side has always been ready for exchanges) and that delays originated only on the Russian side [43].
The envoys' next stop after Moscow is Dublin, where they are expected to brief Zelenskyy and consult with European leaders at the European Political Community summit [10][18]. Zelenskyy said he wanted the Americans to "return to Dublin with specifics" [9][11]. French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad announced that the EU would approve new sanctions on Monday against 150 additional entities and 50 banks [2][10].