U.S. Envoy Jared Kushner Says Putin Is Ready for Peace Under the Right Conditions as Russia-Ukraine Talks Begin

U.S. envoy Jared Kushner has expressed strong confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine under the right conditions, addressing one of the central questions raised by European governments as negotiations resume.

Speaking at the opening of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi on November 10, Kushner said European officials frequently questioned whether Moscow genuinely wanted to end the war.

“From what Steve and I have heard from him, we can say very strongly we believe so, under the right conditions,” he said, referring to discussions he and fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had held with Putin.

Kushner added that Moscow had raised similar doubts about Kyiv and its European allies. “The Russians ask the same questions of the Ukrainians and the Europeans: are they really genuinely ready for peace?”

The American envoy said two months of intensive discussions with Russian, Ukrainian and European representatives had helped narrow disagreements and identify possible compromises.

He also emphasized that negotiations should address not only an end to the fighting but a broader security framework involving Russia, Ukraine and Europe.

The two-day Abu Dhabi meeting marks the first U.S.-mediated trilateral negotiations since February. Major differences remain over territorial control and security guarantees, with Moscow demanding Ukrainian concessions and Kyiv insisting on protections against future attacks.