Trump's peace envoys to visit Moscow and Kyiv over weekend

US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Russia and Ukraine this weekend in a bid to revive stalled peace talks.

They will first head to Moscow on Saturday to brief President Vladimir Putin, then depart for Kyiv on Sunday to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The envoys have lobbied for a cease-fire for months, but both sides have yet to bridge their differences. Zelensky confirmed he will be ready for the meeting after the Moscow visit.

Earlier on Friday, a Russian drone struck the office of Ukraine’s security chief Oleksandr Poklad in Kyiv. Poklad is believed to be unharmed, and Zelensky ordered him to respond “adequately”.

Kushner, by the way, is Trump’s son‑in‑law, and Witkoff is his chief of staff. They have visited Russia on several occasions, but this will be the first time they engage in Ukraine.

Zelensky pledged that Ukrainian airspace would remain safe for the envoys and urged Russia to do the same for Ukraine.

According to a source with Russia’s state news agency Tass, the envoys were expected to arrive in Moscow and then Kyiv on 5‑6 September. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the talks would be announced after they take place.

Putin recently told an international economic forum that “there are chances” a deal could be reached, insisting first that Moscow and Kyiv agree with each other. He rejected Ukraine’s demands, labeling his terms as “maximalist.”

Ukraine and its European allies have rejected the proposals as a surrender, while Russia continues to control around 20% of Ukrainian territory after the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.