US-Russia negotiations

Analysis

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday for a round of diplomatic talks aimed at assessing the feasibility of ending the war in Ukraine (Aftenposten, 2026; ANSA, 2026; 444.hu, 2026b; Reuters, 2026a; Reuters, 2026b). Prior to the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the Americans arrived with concrete proposals, though he expressed skepticism regarding the initiative's success (ANSA, 2026; 444.hu, 2026b). After the envoys were spotted leaving their hotel for the Kremlin, they met with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Interfax RU, 2026; הארץ — חדשות, 2026; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). Following the discussions, the parties agreed to hold a new round of multilateral talks next week, which will include European representatives (הארץ — חדשות, 2026; 444.hu, 2026a; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). Witkoff stated that the meeting established a basis for future exchanges (הארץ — חדשות, 2026). According to reports, after the meeting in Moscow, the envoys traveled to Dublin to brief Zelensky on the details of the negotiations (הארץ — חדשות, 2026; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). During the meeting, Putin emphasized that Russia would not relinquish occupied territories and would take action against foreign troops if deployed in Ukraine (הארץ — חדשות, 2026; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). Parallel to the diplomatic efforts, Zelensky reported significant disruptions to the Starshield satellite internet service, which he stated were limiting his forces' communication and defensive capabilities along the front lines and effectively aiding the Russian war effort (Jerusalem Post — international, 2026b; Guardian World, 2026).

What to watch

• The holding of the planned multilateral round of talks next week with European participation.
• Specific time and location for the upcoming meetings between the parties.
• Further developments regarding the performance of the Starshield service in Ukraine.

How it was covered

Reports on the Moscow visit appeared in various international media outlets on November 12, including Aftenposten, ANSA, The Jerusalem Post, 444.hu, Reuters, Interfax, Haaretz, and Novaya Gazeta Europe (Aftenposten, 2026; ANSA, 2026; Jerusalem Post — international, 2026a; 444.hu, 2026b; Reuters, 2026a; Reuters, 2026b; Interfax RU, 2026; הארץ — חדשות, 2026; 444.hu, 2026a; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). While most reports focused on the arrival of the envoys, later coverage provided details on the outcome of the meeting with Putin and the subsequent travel to Dublin (הארץ — חדשות, 2026; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). Data regarding Putin's positions on occupied territories and foreign troop presence were published by Haaretz, Novaya Gazeta Europe, and other outlets (הארץ — חדשות, 2026; Novaya Gazeta Europe, 2026). Reports regarding the Starshield disruptions appeared in The Jerusalem Post and The Guardian, linking them to the current status of the fighting (Jerusalem Post — international, 2026b; Guardian World, 2026).