Important negotiations: how Russia and the United States approach a new meeting between Putin and Witkoff

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will arrive in Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin. The talks will take place on January 22, the Kremlin confirmed to Izvestia. Russia expects that a representative of the American administration will explain Washington's position on the Ukrainian settlement, the Federation Council told Izvestia. In addition, Witkoff can provide the latest developments on the peace plan that the United States has been coordinating in recent weeks with Ukraine and its allies. Europe is still not ready to resume direct dialogue. Germany did not support the initiative of France and Italy to negotiate with the Russian Federation, Izvestia found out. The expert community believes that the position of Germany may change after the change of the country's government.

How are the negotiations between Russia and the United States on Ukraine going?

Special Envoy of the President of the United States Steve Witkoff will hold talks with Vladimir Putin again. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader's press secretary, confirmed to Izvestia that the meeting would take place on January 22. Over the past year, Putin and Witkoff have personally spoken six times, and the Ukrainian settlement remains the key topic of the dialogue.

— I personally hope that Witkoff will explain the development of the situation. There seems to be some kind of evolution in their (US — Ed.) approaches," Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, told Izvestia. — It is no coincidence that the Davos forum is hyperactive, we see a duel of completely different points of view on the future of international law. This makes the visit of the American representative and his upcoming meeting with our leader useful. I am convinced that it will clarify a lot.

The World Economic Forum in Davos usually takes place in an atmosphere of transatlantic solidarity. Since 2022, the West has traditionally discussed military and economic assistance to Ukraine on the principle of "as much as needed." However, this time, amid the dispute between Brussels and Washington over the US claims to Greenland, the Ukrainian issue has receded into the background. Arriving in Davos, Donald Trump made unheard—of statements: the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis is solely the business of the Europeans, and Europe itself is moving in the "wrong direction."

In Davos, Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner held talks with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation. The parties positively assessed the outcome of the meeting, but did not report any results. Dmitriev only noted that "more and more people are realizing the correctness of Russia's position." Witkoff also said that the work on the peace plan is 90% complete. A few days before the forum, the United States was visited by a Ukrainian delegation led by Kirill Budanov, head of the Office of the President (recognized in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist). Trump's meeting with Vladimir Zelensky is also scheduled to take place in Davos, according to Axios.

Back in November, Russia confirmed that it had received a 28-point plan from the United States to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. In particular, it contained the need to solve the problems of the Russian language and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Later, under the influence of Kiev and its European partners, the document was repeatedly reduced and changed.

— In the subsequent materials that we saw and which were presented at the end of 2025 as a "20—point plan" — and we did not receive any fresh documents following the negotiations that took place between the United States, Ukraine and Europe over the past couple of weeks - there was nothing said about the need to restore the rights of the Russian the language and the canonical Orthodox Church," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on January 20.

However, Moscow expects the United States to provide the latest information on the peace plan and the course of the settlement.

— We are currently working in the "Anchorage atmosphere", because it was there that the fundamental agreements were reached (on August 15, 2025, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held talks in Alaska — Ed.). As far as I understand, we are now proceeding precisely from them — their spirit and letter. Therefore, let's see how the American side implements all this," Grigory Karasin explained.

After Steve Witkoff's talks with Vladimir Putin, the Americans will travel to the UAE to discuss issues in working groups. Oleg Karpovich, Vice-rector of the Diplomatic Academy, believes that the parties are approaching a crucial stage of the diplomatic process.

— The most controversial issue, apparently, is the territorial issue. But there are also many discrepancies on many other issues, including the so-called guarantees of Ukraine's security. Serious work is needed to bring positions closer," the source told Izvestia. — There are certainly chances for progress if the United States is determined to put pressure on Ukraine, seeking necessary concessions from it. Today, it is Kiev's unconstructive position that is hindering negotiations, and only Washington will be able to force the Zelensky regime to seriously think about peace. If Trump decides to use the leverage he has, the military action will end quickly.

Prospects for the resumption of dialogue between Europe and Russia

The negotiations between the United States and Russia on Ukraine are closely watched in Europe. The EU still refuses to resume dialogue with Russia. Only Hungary and Slovakia maintain regular contacts with Moscow. At the same time, it is curious that recently, against the background of increasing political differences with the United States in Europe, the larger EU countries have begun to talk about the inevitability of normalizing dialogue with Russia.

So, at the beginning of the year, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he intended to hold a conversation with Vladimir Putin in the near future. "The contact is being reorganized," the politician said on January 7. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also spoke out. She said it was time for the European Union to start talking to Russia. She supported the position of Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, who also spoke about the need for direct contacts with Moscow. As for Germany, Berlin apparently did not support the initiative of France and Italy on direct negotiations with the Russian Federation.

— In close coordination with our European partners and the United States, we advocate for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. However, we still do not see a serious willingness to negotiate on the part of Russia. Instead, Russia continues its attacks against Ukraine, particularly against its energy infrastructure. Russia must enter into serious peace negotiations, the German Embassy in Russia told Izvestia, answering the question whether Berlin supports the calls of Paris and Rome to establish a direct dialogue with Moscow.

However, the Russian Federation has repeatedly stressed that it is open to peaceful dialogue on Ukraine, but it does not advocate a temporary truce, but the elimination of the root causes of the conflict. This includes, in particular, the country's non-entry into NATO, which the alliance and Kiev have not yet abandoned.

Prior to its independence, Germany had an active dialogue with Russia on Ukraine, but then almost completely abandoned contacts with Moscow. Friedrich Merz's predecessor Olaf Scholz had his last telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin in November 2024. On January 16, Friedrich Merz unexpectedly announced that Germany has a desire to achieve a balance in relations with Russia, its largest European neighbor. However, the resumption of political dialogue between Russia and Germany under Merz is unlikely, according to Artem Sokolov, a Germanist and senior researcher at the MGIMO Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

— The "Russian threat" for the German authorities is a tool for mobilization and explanation of problems in the German economy. Chancellor Merz has repeatedly criticized any interaction with the Russian side, while it is difficult to conclude from his public statements what he sees as the optimal model of Russian-German relations in principle. It can be assumed that the federal chancellor still proceeds from the prospect of Russia's strategic defeat and is ready exclusively for communication on unequal bases," he told Izvestia.

According to the expert, the change in Germany's position, taking into account the growing contradictions between the United States and Germany, will develop towards intensifying contacts with Western allies and traditional partners from the countries of the Global South. Artyom Sokolov believes that it will probably be possible to talk about restarting the Russian-German dialogue during the work of the next German government. He believes that Friedrich Merz could theoretically hold a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, but this is unlikely to change the overall negative trend in Russian-German relations.