Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Saturday.
They were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev before leaving the airport for the city. Russian officials said Putin was expected to meet the two American representatives at the Kremlin later in the day.
Trump Says Envoys Carry Peace Proposal
President Trump has said Witkoff and Kushner are travelling with a proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Washington has not disclosed the full details of the plan. Major questions remain over how any proposal would address territory, security guarantees and Ukraine's future relationship with NATO.
Kyiv Visit Planned After Moscow
Following their Moscow meetings, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
It would be the pair's first visit to Ukraine since Trump's return to the White House. They have previously made several trips to Moscow and met Putin as part of US-backed diplomatic efforts.
Putin Orders Three-Day Pause on Kyiv Strikes
Ahead of the diplomatic mission, Putin ordered Russian forces to suspend strikes on Kyiv for three days starting at midnight Saturday.
Zelenskyy has also said Ukraine will halt airstrikes during the US delegation's visit and urged Moscow to take reciprocal steps.
Major Differences Still Remain
Despite the renewed diplomatic push, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on several fundamental issues.
Russia has maintained demands involving territory claimed by Moscow and Ukraine's NATO ambitions, while Kyiv has rejected surrendering territory it controls. These disagreements remain among the biggest obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement.
Diplomacy Amid Continued Fighting
The diplomatic initiative comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange drones and missiles.
A recent Russian drone strike hit the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service, or SBU, in central Kyiv. The attack underscored the fragile security environment surrounding the renewed peace efforts.
The coming meetings in Moscow and Kyiv could provide a new opportunity for negotiations, but a lasting agreement is likely to depend on whether both sides can narrow their differences over territory and security.
