US Peace Envoys Schedule Weekend Talks in Moscow and Kyiv
| Envoys' Itinerary | Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday and Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday. |
|---|---|
| US Initiative | US President Donald Trump confirmed the negotiators are bringing a proposed plan to end the conflict. |
| Diplomatic First | This marks the envoys' first official visit to Ukraine, following prior trips to Russia. |
| Active Hostilities | The visits follow recent strikes, including an attack on a Ukrainian security office and a deadly strike in Kamianske. |
United States representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to hold separate meetings in Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend as part of an effort to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he will receive the envoys on Sunday, following their talks in Moscow on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US President Donald Trump stated that the envoys are carrying a diplomatic framework. “They are bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump told reporters. While Witkoff and Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law, have previously traveled to Russia, the planned discussions will mark their first visit to Ukraine.
Diplomatic Stances and Logistics
The diplomatic push comes amid significant disagreement over terms to end the fighting. Speaking at an international economic forum on Thursday, Putin remarked that “there are chances” for an agreement, adding that “first of all, Moscow and Kyiv must agree between themselves.” However, Putin maintained demands for territorial concessions from Ukraine. Kyiv and its European allies have routinely dismissed those requirements, describing them as equivalent to surrender.
Regarding travel arrangements, Russian state news agency Tass cited an unnamed source stating the negotiators were expected to arrive in Moscow and Kyiv on 5–6 September. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to formally confirm the schedule in advance, stating that official announcements would be made when contacts occur. Zelensky confirmed he guaranteed safety for Russian airspace during the envoys’ trip and urged Moscow to provide matching safety assurances for Ukrainian airspace.
Ongoing Military Actions
The diplomatic mission takes place alongside continuing violence across Ukraine. On Friday, Zelensky reported that a Russian drone struck the office of SBU security service chief Oleksandr Poklad in Kyiv. Poklad was not injured in the strike, and Zelensky stated on social media that he directed Poklad to deliver an adequate response.
On Saturday, regional officials reported further casualties in south-eastern Ukraine. Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, stated that a Russian strike on the city of Kamianske killed four people and injured five others. Russian forces currently occupy approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory following the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Background
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While international actors have made multiple attempts to facilitate negotiations, peace efforts have repeatedly stalled over major disagreements regarding territorial sovereignty and security guarantees.
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