US envoys Witkoff and Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv as peace proposal takes shape
Negotiators are set to hold separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian leaders this weekend, carrying a specific proposal to end the conflict amid ongoing hostilities.
US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend to advance diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The pair, who have led President Donald Trump’s initiatives to broker a peace deal, are expected to hold separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.
President Trump stated that the envoys are bringing a specific proposal to end the war, although significant differences remain between the two sides. This visit marks the first time Witkoff and Kushner have travelled to Ukraine, having previously visited Russia on multiple occasions. Zelensky confirmed he would meet the envoys on Sunday and said he would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace during their visit, while calling on Russia to provide similar assurances for Ukraine.
The diplomatic push coincides with recent escalations in hostilities. Earlier this week, a Russian drone struck the office of Ukraine’s security chief, Oleksandr Poklad, in Kyiv, though Poklad appears to be unharmed. Zelensky ordered Poklad, who heads the SBU security service, to respond appropriately to the attack. Additionally, regional authorities reported that four people were killed and five others wounded in a Russian strike on the south-eastern city of Kamianske.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that the Kremlin would not announce details until the contacts take place, suggesting a degree of institutional caution. Russia’s state news agency Tass quoted a source saying the envoys were expected to arrive on 5-6 September, but this remains based on a single source rather than an official statement.
Putin told an international economic forum on Thursday that there were chances for a peace deal, provided Moscow and Kyiv could agree between themselves. However, he showed no sign of backing down from maximalist demands, including further territorial concessions from Ukraine. Kyiv and its European allies have repeatedly rejected these terms, describing them as tantamount to capitulation.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately 20 per cent of its territory. The upcoming meetings are seen as a critical test of whether the stalled talks can progress towards a formalised agreement.
