US envoys Kushner, Witkoff meet Putin in Moscow, travel to Israel for Gaza talks

Senior US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held extended discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before travelling to Israel for talks focused on Gaza’s future, as Washington pursues parallel diplomatic tracks aimed at easing two of the world’s most entrenched conflicts.

The meeting with Putin lasted nearly four hours and focused on outstanding issues ahead of the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks, a US official said on Saturday. The discussions come as negotiations involving Moscow and Kyiv continue under UAE facilitation, even as fighting on the ground persists.

“They met for just about four hours, and it was a very productive discussion, addressing the final issues that remain open,” the official said during a media briefing.

Ukraine talks amid continued fighting

The Moscow meeting preceded trilateral discussions involving Russia and Ukraine that have been hosted in Abu Dhabi. A senior official said the next round of talks is scheduled to begin on February 1, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing the previous discussions as constructive.

“A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive,” Zelensky said, adding that another round could take place as early as next week.

The UAE government has characterised the talks, which involved senior military officers from both sides, as having taken place in a “constructive and positive atmosphere.” However, optimism on the ground in Ukraine remains limited.

On the eve of the second day of talks, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack across Ukraine, disrupting electricity supplies for millions during sub-zero temperatures. Kyiv accused Moscow of undermining diplomatic efforts by carrying out what it called another “night of Russian terror.”

For residents in the Ukrainian capital who endured renewed overnight strikes, hopes of an immediate breakthrough appeared faint, underscoring the fragile nature of negotiations occurring alongside active hostilities.

Gaza diplomacy follows Moscow visit

From Moscow, Kushner and Witkoff travelled to Israel, where they were set to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the future of Gaza. A US official said the envoys were working to assess next steps to preserve the current ceasefire and build conditions for a longer-term peace arrangement.

The visit comes as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in place since October 10, has entered its second phase, even as both sides continue to accuse each other of violations.

Israeli media reported that US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper was also visiting Israel on Saturday. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that meetings with the American envoys were taking place in Jerusalem.

The discussions are also expected to address the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza. Of the 251 people taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the body of Ran Gvili is the only one still in the Palestinian territory.

Gvili’s family urged the Israeli leadership to prioritise the issue during talks with the US delegation. “Anyone who truly seeks to advance the rehabilitation of Gaza and peace in the Middle East must first and foremost bring Rani home,” the family said in a statement.

‘New Gaza’ vision and reconstruction debate

The Israel visit follows remarks by US officials, including President Donald Trump, at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week, where they outlined a vision for a rebuilt Gaza following the war.

Describing Gaza’s coastal location, Trump said redevelopment could transform the territory. “I’m a real estate person at heart… look at this beautiful piece of property. What it could be for so many people,” he said.

Kushner echoed that view, pointing to rapid urban development elsewhere in the Middle East and calling for investments of at least $25 billion to restore Gaza’s infrastructure and public services.

However, international estimates suggest significantly higher costs. A UN- and World Bank-backed assessment from February 2025 placed reconstruction expenses at $53 billion, while the UN Conference on Trade and Development later said costs could reach $70 billion and require decades to complete.

Meanwhile, tensions on the ground persist. On Saturday, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that two teenagers were killed in an Israeli drone strike. The Israeli military said its forces had targeted and killed two militants who were planting explosive devices near troops.

As US envoys engage simultaneously with Russia, Ukraine and Israel, Washington’s efforts highlight the challenge of advancing diplomacy across multiple conflict zones, where negotiations remain vulnerable to developments on the battlefield.

With inputs from agencies