US envoys arrive in Moscow for Ukraine talks with Putin

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin after two days of negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough.

Videos shared by Russian media showed Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev greeting the Americans at their plane with handshakes and hugs. Dmitriev met them Thursday morning, Al Jazeera reported. The envoys were due to meet Putin at noon local time, according to the BBC. They are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.

The Abu Dhabi talks ended Wednesday with news of another planned major prisoner exchange but no agreement to end the nearly five-year war. The United States said differences remained on major issues, including territory, while reporting some progress on postwar security guarantees. Al Jazeera described the meetings as the first direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations mediated by the US in nine months.

Kyiv has rejected Putin’s demand that it surrender all of the eastern Donbas region in return for peace. Moscow has opposed bringing European representatives into the negotiations, citing European support for Ukraine.

Kushner said Tuesday that the US had seen “some openings and some opportunities” and would try to “make some progress” with Putin. He said he and Witkoff would ask the Russian president to “give his blessing” to European participation in future discussions, particularly those concerning Europe’s security arrangements. Kushner urged European countries to “identify one person to speak on their behalf.”

Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia’s delegation in Abu Dhabi, said he believed the parties had “moved closer to achieving peace.” But, he added, “a lot depends on Ukraine, on the position of the United States, and on whether Europe comes to its senses.”

The BBC reported that European governments, which cut direct contact with the Kremlin during the war’s early years, have increasingly pressed for a place at the negotiating table amid concerns about the current US administration’s commitment to European security and its approach to Moscow.

Leaders from more than 40 European countries gathered in Dublin on Thursday for a European Political Community summit focused on security. Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte were among those attending, Al Jazeera reported. Zelensky and European leaders were expected to discuss the Abu Dhabi talks.

French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said Thursday that the European Union would approve further sanctions against Russia. “On Monday, we will take new sanctions against Russia on 150 additional entities, 50 banks,” he told LCI television, adding that France had proposed most of the entities to be listed.

Separately, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were again encountering what he called “systematic” restrictions to Starshield satellite internet, a SpaceX service used for frontline communications, according to the BBC. He said the restrictions made it harder to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. “This is helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine,” he said. “We are trying to clear up all circumstances with the American side.” The BBC said connectivity problems in October lasted about a week and that SpaceX owner Elon Musk denied deliberately throttling Ukraine’s connection.