Russian senior diplomat and foreign policy aide to the president since 2012
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow and are traveling to Kyiv to push for a diplomatic end to the Ukraine war. Zelensky has welcomed renewed engagement and security guarantees, while Russia and Ukraine maintain hard positions on territory and security arrangements. Attacks persist amid talks.
Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow to revive talks aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite weekend diplomacy, Moscow and Kyiv show deep gaps on terms. Ukraine halts airstrikes during the visit; Russia has escalated strikes elsewhere.
President Donald Trump has spoken by phone for one hour with Vladimir Putin after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv. The Kremlin has said both leaders discussed possible steps to end the war in Ukraine and praised the envoys' diplomacy, while Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have resumed.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv amid renewed efforts to end the war. Talks in Moscow yesterday ended without breakthroughs as both sides pause strikes on capitals. Kyiv reports ongoing drone and missile threats; concerns rise over winter and Patriot shortages.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek has leaders from China, Russia and India attending as partners discuss regional cooperation. Talks point to China and Russia strengthening ties and expanding influence, with India hedging its position amid competing regional interests. Turkiye seeks a more permanent role while maintaining ties with the West.
Kushner and Witkoff have travelled from Moscow to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials and other European representatives. They have met Zelensky and stressed security guarantees as crucial for a post-war peace. Attacks continue on front lines as fighting remains active.
President Donald Trump has spoken by phone with President Vladimir Putin for about an hour after US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow and Kyiv. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said the call was "constructive and quite candid," that Trump wants a quick end to the war, and that Putin outlined Russia's battlefield view.
Putin has reiterated readiness to resume talks with Kyiv as drone strikes disrupt elections; U.S. diesel deal with Moscow draws criticism as Ukraine says the move feeds the war; negotiations are now under renewed strain with Moscow signaling readiness to revisit talks only after polling days.
Ukraine and Western allies are seeking to steer diplomacy in Oslo amid strained ties with the United States. Zelenskiy has urged constructive talks on early warnings, Starlink, and Patriot missiles, while Trump hints at new mediation paths. US envoys Witkoff and Kushner join regional leaders to press for a peace pathway and energy ceasefire; leaders warn patience will be needed.
Ukraine is enduring intensified Russian strikes across multiple regions, with Kyiv and Kharkiv recording casualties. Washington and Moscow signal cautious engagement in tripartite talks, while Ukraine urges stronger air defences amid a winter-focused campaign.