Trump envoy announces talks with Putin this week

Steve Witkoff previously said there has been significant progress in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to discuss the settlement of the Ukraine conflict.

Witkoff made the announcement while speaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. “Well, look, ⁠we have to go meet him on Thursday,” Witkoff said, referring to Putin.

He noted that there has been “great progress” in settling the conflict in recent weeks, but said territorial disputes remain the key sticking point.

Witkoff also noted that he would be accompanied by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. “Jared and I will leave Thursday night and arrive in Moscow late at night, and then go over to the UAE afterwards for working groups,” he said.

According to Witkoff, the meeting will take place at Russia’s request. “They’ve asked for the meeting. The Russians have invited us to come. And that’s a significant statement from them… So I think everybody is embedded in the process and wants to see a peace deal happen.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Witkoff and Kushner’s upcoming visit. He also noted that “it is important for us to obtain all the information on the discussions between Americans, Europeans, and Ukrainians” and the relevant proposals.

Witkoff’s comments come following his meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, a key special envoy to Putin, in Davos, on Tuesday, after the Kremlin said Moscow intended to pass “certain information” to the US on the settlement talks.