MOSCOW, 5 September, 2026 (Ghufran): US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday to discuss a proposed plan aimed at ending more than four years of war between Russia and Ukraine. The two envoys, sent by US President Donald Trump, are expected to hold talks in Moscow before travelling to Kyiv as part of Washington’s latest diplomatic effort to break the deadlock in peace negotiations over Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of attempting to disrupt the visit by carrying out overnight strikes on Kyiv’s two airports and a civilian target in the Dnipro region. According to Ukrainian officials, the attack on the civilian target killed five people. Zelensky said the strikes appeared to be linked to preparations for a possible US aircraft carrying the envoys to Ukraine, while stressing that Ukraine would not allow threats to undermine diplomatic efforts. The visit is expected to mark the first time Witkoff and Kushner have travelled to war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last year with a pledge to help resolve the conflict.
Travelling to Kyiv by air would be highly unusual because Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since the beginning of the war in 2022. Foreign leaders and officials visiting Ukraine have generally travelled by train.A senior Ukrainian official said the US envoys were expected to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday. US media also reported that the two negotiators were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. President Trump said Witkoff and Kushner would assess whether meaningful progress could be made toward ending the war. He said the envoys were carrying a proposal aimed at bringing the conflict to an end. Trump did not disclose whether the proposal would require Ukraine to give up territory, an issue he has previously raised, but said Washington had developed an idea for peace. Peace efforts have faced significant challenges amid the wider Middle East conflict, while Russia and Ukraine have continued intensifying long-range attacks. The escalation has contributed to rising civilian casualties. Witkoff and Kushner have previously participated in US diplomatic efforts involving ceasefires in Gaza and Iran and have travelled to Moscow several times as part of earlier attempts to advance negotiations.