US Envoys Visit Russia and Ukraine Amid Rising Chance of Peace
US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will depart for Russia on Saturday and Kyiv on Sunday in a bid to bring an end to the war that began in 2022. Their arrival follows talks at the White House and is the first time they will be in Ukraine for official discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed his readiness to meet the envoys in Kyiv, and he has also warned that the Russian airspace must remain safe for flights while the parties negotiate. The president vowed to welcome Russian pilots if they reciprocate the measure for Ukraine.
Tensions rose earlier Friday when a Russian drone struck the office of Ukrainian security chief Oleksandr Poklad in the capital. Poklad appeared unharmed and was directed by Zelensky to respond dutifully to the attack.
The envoys, who have travelled to Russia on multiple occasions, aim to create a bridge between Moscow and Kyiv. They arrive as Russia signals that a peace deal could be on the table, though the Kremlin insists on substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine. Kyiv and its European allies have consistently rejected such demands, calling them unacceptable.
The war, launched by Russia’s full‑scale invasion in February 2022, continues to occupy roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, with international donors backing Kyiv’s resistance and calling for a decisive confrontation with Russian forces.
