In brief
President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner and former U.S. ambassador Steve Witkoff have landed in Moscow and Kyiv for a surprise trip this week, offering a drafted cease‑fire plan to both sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he would meet the envoys on Sunday, following their Saturday talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visits come after a Russian drone struck a Ukrainian security office in Kyiv, sparking calls for stronger defence measures. The talks are the first of their kind for the U.S. delegation in Ukraine, signalling renewed diplomatic effort. With Russia still controlling roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, the outcome of these meetings could shape the next chapter of the conflict.
U.S. Envoys Travel to Moscow and Kyiv
In a bold move, President Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner and former U.S. ambassador Steve Witkoff are jetting to Moscow on Saturday and Kyiv on Sunday to present a draft cease‑fire proposal, according to Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky confirmed his willingness to meet the envoys on Sunday after the Moscow visit, adding that the delegations will carry a proposal to bring an end to the war. Trump, speaking to reporters, reinforced that the two men would bring a peace package to the discussion.
During the preceding week, a Russian drone struck a Ukrainian security office in Kyiv. The office manager appeared to survive the assault, and Zelensky directed the security chief to respond adequately. In his social media post, Zelensky urged Russians to respect Ukrainian airspace as he promised similar respect for Russian airspace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would provide announcements once the contacts between the envoys and Russian officials are concluded. Reuters reported that the envoys are expected to arrive in Moscow and Kyiv on 5–6 September.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at an international forum that a peace deal is possible but highlighted that Moscow and Kyiv must first agree independently, while maintaining his maximalist territorial demands. Kyiv and its European allies have repeatedly rejected Putin’s terms as too demanding and threatening to internal sovereignty.
The conflict began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion in February 2022 and currently controls about twenty percent of Ukrainian territory. The weekend visit by the U.S. negotiators may influence progress toward a diplomatic resolution amid ongoing hostilities.
