US President Donald Trump has announced that he is sending his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to Russia and Ukraine with a proposal aimed at ending more than four years of war between Moscow and Kyiv.
The latest diplomatic push is Washington’s attempt to break the deadlock surrounding the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that the two envoys are expected to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday. US outlet Axios reported that they would first meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday before travelling to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Kremlin has not commented on the reported meetings.
Trump said Witkoff and Kushner would assess whether there was a realistic opportunity to make progress towards a peace agreement.
“They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump said.
The US president did not disclose whether the proposal would require Ukraine to surrender territory, an issue that has featured prominently in previous discussions about ending the conflict.
“We have an idea for peace,” Trump added.
The planned visit would mark the first trip to war-torn Kyiv by Witkoff and Kushner since Trump returned to the White House.
The two negotiators have previously been involved in US diplomatic efforts concerning ceasefires in Gaza and Iran. Witkoff has also travelled to Moscow several times as part of attempts to engage Russian officials.
Zelensky proposes temporary ceasefire
The latest diplomatic initiative comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to launch missiles and drones against each other’s territory.
Just hours before Trump’s announcement, Zelensky said a Russian drone had struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv. He said the attack targeted the office of the agency’s acting chief.
Zelensky described the strike as the first attack on the SBU headquarters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Despite the attack, the Ukrainian president proposed a temporary halt to airstrikes during the visit of the American envoys.
“There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire, without its own airstrikes, for the duration needed to conduct these talks,” Zelensky said.
Russia had not immediately responded to the proposal.
The call for a temporary ceasefire came amid continued attacks elsewhere in Ukraine. Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said a Russian strike killed four people and wounded five others in the southeastern city of Kamianske.
One of the injured victims, a 30-year-old woman, was reportedly in intensive care.
Russia and Ukraine intensify long-range attacks
The renewed American peace effort comes as the conflict continues to produce heavy civilian casualties, with both sides intensifying long-range missile and drone attacks.
Zelensky had earlier warned that Ukrainian drones would continue operating in Russian airspace as long as Moscow maintained its military campaign.
The latest diplomatic effort also follows recent high-level US contacts with Russia. Earlier in the week, Washington welcomed Russia’s finance minister to a G20 gathering in North Carolina.
The reported visit by Witkoff and Kushner is expected to test whether the latest US proposal can move Moscow and Kyiv closer to negotiations after previous diplomatic efforts failed to produce a lasting breakthrough.
How did this story make you feel?
Join the conversation
Share a thoughtful response. Submissions may be reviewed before appearing.
Reader responses are closed on older stories.
