Trump Envoys Witkoff and Kushner Prepare Moscow and Kyiv Visits for Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to visit Moscow and Kyiv to present a peace proposal. Security arrangements and temporary halts to airstrikes are being negotiated.
Envoys of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are preparing to travel to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend in a renewed American diplomatic push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump stated that the duo will present a peace proposal to both sides, though the specific details of the plan remain undisclosed.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to arrive in Moscow on September 5 before proceeding to Kyiv. However, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that travel arrangements have not been finalized due to security concerns regarding the envoys.
Security Guarantees and Temporary Ceasefire
Ahead of the trip, Washington requested that Ukraine refrain from launching drone strikes on Moscow while the US delegation is in the Russian capital, and asked Russia to halt attacks on Kyiv during the envoys' visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ready to pause airstrikes inside Russia during the visit, provided Moscow reciprocates:
"It is crucial that America remains active. We are ready to meet them in Ukraine for substantive talks at the appropriate level, and we expect parallel commitments from Russia to ensure the envoys' safety."
If the trip to Kyiv takes place, it will mark the first visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. The two envoys previously visited Moscow in January, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but those talks yielded no breakthrough. The last round of US-mediated contacts occurred in February, before tensions with Iran diverted the Trump administration's focus.
Escalation Amid Diplomatic Push
This renewed diplomatic effort coincides with a sharp escalation in aerial attacks. On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in central Kyiv, hitting the building housing the director's office near St. Sophia's Cathedral. Zelensky reported that 12 people were injured. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha argued that the timing of the strike indicates a Russian attempt to sabotage the diplomatic initiative.
Simultaneously, Ukraine has intensified drone strikes inside Russian territory, targeting oil facilities in Sochi and Sirius, which triggered major fires. Russian forces also launched strikes on targets in Odesa, Dnipro, and the Kyiv region, resulting in casualties.
Deep Divides Remain
Significant gaps persist between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia demands that Ukraine cede territory and abandon its aspirations to join NATO. Ukraine rejects these demands, viewing them as terms of surrender. Western intelligence agencies remain skeptical of Putin's willingness to reach an agreement soon, assessing that he may attempt to improve Russia's battlefield position before agreeing to concessions.
