Witkoff hears 'new ideas' in Moscow, but Ukraine peace prospects remain unclear

US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, after which Zelensky expressed readiness for trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks, though Moscow has not confirmed participation. Witkoff said the American side heard "new ideas" in Moscow, but their content remains undisclosed. Former US ambassadors William Taylor and John Herbst caution against expecting a breakthrough, noting Russia's maximalist demands and lack of concrete military de-escalation signals remain key obstacles. Territorial issues and security guarantees are central sticking points. European advisors joined Kyiv consultations, but Putin's agreement to a new negotiation round is seen as the first real test of progress.