Moscow [Russia]: US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on Thursday, according to Russian state media.
The Gulfstream G650 jet carrying Witkoff departed from Doha’s Hamad International Airport and entered Russian airspace from Latvia at around 8:40 GMT, TASS reported, citing flight tracking data.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that US negotiators discussing the Ukrainian conflict were en route to Russia, with scheduled meetings planned for the day.
On March 12, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Witkoff would visit Moscow to engage in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukrainian conflict. Reports suggest Witkoff is expected to meet with senior Russian officials, possibly including President Vladimir Putin.
The visit follows Russia’s recent claims of reclaiming strategic towns in the Kursk region from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova acknowledged Washington’s recent “positive rhetoric” and expressed hope for constructive dialogue supporting peace, cooperation, and mutual understanding.
In a recent interview with US bloggers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that during talks in Riyadh, the US delegation indicated Washington’s desire for improved relations with Moscow and readiness for serious negotiations.
On Wednesday, President Trump remarked, “It’s up to Russia now,” as his administration continued to push Moscow to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has expressed willingness to support, according to Al Jazeera.
Top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov revealed that he had discussed Russia’s position on the ceasefire with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. TASS further reported that Russia plans to appoint special negotiators to engage in Ukraine-related talks with US delegates.