US diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war entered a new phase on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with the arrival of US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and advisor, in the Russian capital, Moscow. They are set to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin following a round of negotiations hosted in Abu Dhabi, which concluded without achieving a decisive breakthrough on the most complex issues.
Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian President's special representative, received the US delegation upon their arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport before escorting them to the city center in preparation for the upcoming discussions at the Kremlin. This visit marks the tenth time Witkoff has met the Russian President in person since the resumption of US efforts to reach a political settlement to the war.
These moves come two days after trilateral negotiations between representatives of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, held in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. The talks resulted in a preliminary understanding regarding a large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange, without reaching an agreement on fundamental issues related to borders, sovereignty, and security guarantees.
Data reported by Reuters and the Associated Press reveal the continued divergence between the positions of Moscow and Kyiv, particularly regarding the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Russia maintains territorial demands rejected by Ukrainian authorities, who view the concession of their lands as a violation of their sovereignty and national territorial integrity.
Faced with this impasse, US mediators are seeking to broaden the discussion toward security arrangements that could be adopted after the war ends, including international guarantees for Ukraine and reconstruction, as well as the possibility of involving European nations more extensively in the negotiation process, given their role as key parties in the continental security architecture.
Following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi negotiations, Kushner noted that there are opportunities to build upon to bridge the gaps, but acknowledged that significant differences remain between the two sides, emphasizing the importance of coordinating with Ukraine and European partners in the next phase of negotiations.
Conversely, Moscow continues to link the settlement to demands concerning European security arrangements and the status of disputed territories, while Kyiv insists on guarantees that prevent the recurrence of future military operations. The continuation of mutual attacks further complicates the task of building the trust necessary to turn diplomatic understandings into an enforceable agreement.
This round places the Russian President before a new diplomatic test, as Washington seeks to extract tangible progress that could pave the way for a ceasefire, although available indicators so far do not allow for certainty regarding an imminent final settlement.
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