US President's special representative Steve Whitthof and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner may soon visit Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. This appears as a continuation of negotiations that began after the announcement of the "Trump plan," originally proposed by Russian officials as a way to prevent new US sanctions on Russian oil companies.
However, following the implementation of these sanctions, Russia's interest in negotiations has waned. Nonetheless, consultations to hold off further US measures continue. Recently, key negotiations involve the US, Ukraine, and European nations, rather than direct talks with Russia.
A significant meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump is expected at the Davos World Economic Forum. The main topics remain security guarantees for Ukraine and US involvement in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, as well as options to pressure Russia into stopping the war.
The Kremlin has shown no sign that Putin is inclined toward real peace talks. Russian leadership is more focused on continuing the war and exhausting Ukraine, as evident in recent attacks on energy infrastructure. For Putin, continuing hostilities is a greater priority than the country's economic prosperity.
Each visit by US officials to Moscow is used by the Kremlin to legitimize Putin’s role as a negotiating partner. The delay in the negotiation process benefits Russia by further weakening Ukraine and complicating diplomatic efforts against the Russian Federation.
What matters most is not the visit itself, but the steps the US will take afterwards. Increased real pressure, especially through sanctions, could force the Kremlin to reevaluate its strategy. For Putin, true leverage comes not from diplomacy but from tangible threats to his regime.
