A high-level diplomatic effort is underway as a delegation from the United States, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, arrives in Moscow for ceasefire discussions with Russian officials. The meeting comes at a crucial juncture in negotiations aimed at temporarily halting the three-year-long war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the US delegation’s arrival on Thursday, stating that discussions with Russian counterparts would take place in the coming days. Russian state-run TASS news agency reported that Witkoff’s plane had landed in Moscow, signaling a significant step toward potential de-escalation.
The diplomatic developments coincide with Russia’s claims of having recaptured key towns in the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. On Thursday, Russian officials announced that their military had successfully retaken Sudzha and other strategic settlements, bolstering Moscow’s position in the negotiations.
Witkoff, who previously served as US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, has emerged as a key player in efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. Trump, speaking on Wednesday, placed the onus on Russia, stating, “It’s up to Russia now,” as Washington pushes for a 30-day ceasefire agreement already accepted by Ukraine.
While Peskov refrained from publicly commenting on Moscow’s stance, top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov revealed that he had discussed the proposal with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Ushakov expressed skepticism about the deal, calling it “nothing other than a temporary respite for the Ukrainian military.” He further stated that any measures merely imitating peace efforts would be ineffective.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced frustration over Moscow’s lack of response to the ceasefire offer, suggesting that Russia’s silence indicated a desire to prolong the conflict. “We hope that US pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war,” Zelenskyy stated in a social media post.
As speculation mounts regarding Russia’s potential demands, reports suggest Moscow may insist on Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations, removing foreign troops from its territory, and recognizing the 20 percent of Ukrainian land currently under Russian control. Al Jazeera’s Moscow correspondent Dorsa Jabbari reported that Russian officials were expected to submit their list of conditions before formally responding to the US proposal.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a swift military offensive to consolidate Russian gains in the western regions. In a rare appearance in military attire, Putin visited the Kursk region, emphasizing the need for a decisive victory and hinting at the creation of a security buffer along the state border. “Our task in the near future is to decisively defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region,” he declared, without directly addressing the ceasefire negotiations.
Analysts suggest that Putin’s presence in Kursk was a strategic move to project confidence and demonstrate Russia’s upper hand. Andrey Kortunov, a member of the Valdai Discussion Club, argued that Putin sought to eliminate any notion that Ukraine could use its remaining strongholds in Kursk as leverage in the negotiations.
From the Ukrainian perspective, skepticism over a ceasefire remains high. Charles Stratford, reporting from Sumy, Ukraine, noted that civilians and military personnel alike remain doubtful of Russia’s willingness to honor any agreement.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, and escalated tensions between Moscow and the West to levels unseen since the Cold War. As negotiations unfold in Moscow, the international community awaits the outcome of this latest diplomatic effort, uncertain whether it will lead to a meaningful pause in hostilities or merely serve as a brief intermission in the ongoing conflict.
