US envoys meet Putin and Zelensky amid peace talk progress

Following high-level talks in Abu Dhabi, US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow on November 12, 2026, to discuss the conflict in Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin. The meetings focused on peace negotiations and the implementation of a large-scale prisoner exchange. Additionally, Putin proposed a joint Russian-Ukrainian humanitarian mission in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, modeled after a successful civilian extraction operation in Olesky last month.

Following the Moscow visit, the envoys met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin. Both sides expressed optimism regarding the resumption of tripartite negotiations and the inclusion of European countries in future diplomatic efforts. While the US and Ukrainian sides emphasize the necessity of European involvement, the Kremlin has stated that it has not yet formally accepted the participation of EU representatives in the format. Ongoing developments include plans for further discussions between Putin and Donald Trump at the upcoming APEC summit in China.

Reports from international media, including the New York Times and Bild, indicate that Russia is simultaneously demanding a broad restructuring of European security, including restrictions on NATO expansion and potential limitations on the defensive capabilities of European nuclear powers like Britain and France. These demands remain contentious as international efforts to reach a ceasefire continue.