US envoys Witkoff and Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend
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US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to arrive in Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend to revive negotiations on ending Russia's war on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Ukraine is ready for substantive, high-level talks. The Kremlin has not confirmed the visit, while a source told Reuters that Moscow is trying to prevent the Kyiv leg of the trip.
Key Facts
- TASS reported that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be in Moscow on September 5 and 6.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that US negotiators are set for meetings in both capitals "in the coming days."
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to confirm the reports at a news briefing.
- A source close to the matter told Reuters that teams are considering Sunday as a possible date for the Kyiv leg.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a number of countries, including the US and China, are ready to support a peace deal.
The Envoys' Itinerary
Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Friday that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be in Moscow on September 5 and 6. The two envoys, respectively President Donald Trump's real estate partner and son-in-law, will first arrive in Moscow. Witkoff and Kushner have not previously visited Kyiv, and were most recently in the Russian capital in January. A source close to the matter told Reuters that discussions on the Ukraine leg of the trip are still ongoing and teams are considering Sunday as a possible date. The same source said, "Russians do not want them to visit Kyiv and are trying to get them to change the plan."
Reactions and Negotiation Prospects
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a late-night address that his country's negotiating team is in near-constant contact with the US side and preparing for talks. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready for substantive, high-level negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to confirm the reports at a later news briefing, saying, "I won't make any announcement right now, but we will inform you when these contacts take place." Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov described the previous talks as constructive but said that "reaching a long-term settlement can't be expected without solving the territorial issue." Speaking at an economic forum in Russia's Far East on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said that a number of countries, including the US and China, are ready to support a peace deal and hinted at possible progress.
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