Putin to meet Trump envoy Witkoff in Moscow over Ukraine talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow on Thursday, the Kremlin said.

Putin made the announcement during a meeting with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council. He said the talks with the U.S. delegation would take place after his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

According to Putin, Witkoff is traveling to Moscow to continue discussions on a possible settlement of the war in Ukraine. Businessman Jared Kushner, a former senior adviser to Trump, is expected to accompany him.

Putin also said he plans to discuss Russia’s potential role in the “Board of Peace,” an initiative Trump has invited him to join. The Kremlin has not provided further details on the body or its mandate.

This will mark the seventh direct meeting between Putin and Trump-linked representatives since Trump returned to office, underscoring renewed diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Washington.

Witkoff had earlier confirmed plans to travel to Moscow on Thursday, with an arrival expected late at night. He said Kushner, who has previously taken part in discussions with Russian officials, would join the visit.

Ahead of the Moscow talks, Witkoff and Kushner met on Jan. 20 with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s special representative and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The meeting took place in Davos, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

The closed-door discussions lasted more than two hours. Witkoff later described the talks as “very positive,” though no details were made public.