US Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow to Discuss Root Causes of Ukraine Conflict

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where the conversation focused on what the Kremlin described as the "actual causes of the conflict," according to German news outlet n-tv.de.

The meeting, reported by n-tv.de on Saturday, marks a significant diplomatic contact between Washington and Moscow amid ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The envoys' visit to the Russian capital follows reports from German public broadcaster tagesschau.de that the same US representatives were expected to hold talks in Kyiv.

According to n-tv.de, Putin used the meeting with the US envoys to address the underlying issues that Moscow views as driving the conflict. The White House and the Kremlin have both issued statements regarding the negotiations, as reported by WEB.DE, though specific details of what was discussed have not been made public.

The diplomatic push comes as drone attacks continue despite the mediation efforts, according to a report from German weekly DIE ZEIT. The ongoing strikes underscore the fragility of the situation on the ground even as US officials shuttle between the two capitals.

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Russian state broadcaster BR reported that Moscow has welcomed the new US peace initiative, signaling a potentially receptive stance toward the diplomatic track.

The meetings in Moscow and the expected talks in Kyiv represent a coordinated US effort to engage both sides directly. Whether these discussions can translate into a tangible reduction in hostilities remains an open question, particularly as drone attacks persist.

Observers will be watching whether the envoys' visits produce any concrete proposals or a timeline for further talks, and whether Ukraine's leadership shares Russia's framing of the conflict's root causes.