US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow to try to revive a deal to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with both sides agreeing to pause airstrikes during their visit.
The envoys were met at the airport on Saturday by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a key contact for the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Ukraine-Russia war. US outlet Axios reported that they were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day.
The visit came after Trump suggested a new proposal on Friday to end the war, though he gave no details on what it might involve. Trump made ending the war a priority early in his second term, but so far his efforts have achieved little.
“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it,” Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would halt its airstrikes during the US officials’ visit and asked Moscow to do the same. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that Putin had ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv.
Large gaps remain between Russia and Ukraine on how to end the war. On Friday, the Kremlin said it was sticking to the position Putin set out two years earlier—that Ukraine should give up four regions claimed by Russia and not join NATO. That position is unacceptable to Ukraine.
Witkoff and Kushner were expected to visit Kyiv on Sunday, which would be their first trip to the Ukrainian capital. Both have visited Moscow before, most recently in January when they met Putin in the Kremlin.
As peace efforts stalled in recent months, with US attention shifting to its conflict with Iran, the fighting has intensified. Ground troops have been locked in a grinding stalemate along the 775-mile (1,250km) frontline, with little progress on either side. Both sides have stepped up aerial attacks in recent weeks, hitting targets farther and farther away.
Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes on Russian military facilities, oil refineries, and e-commerce warehouses, aiming to weaken Russia’s war effort and economy. Its strikes on Russian oil refineries have led to fuel shortages and rising prices at the pump.
On Friday, a Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), one of the agencies responsible for deep-strike operations inside Russia. Zelenskyy has vowed to retaliate. Russia has also increased its attacks on Kyiv and other cities with waves of bombardments, straining Ukraine’s air defense systems.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to disrupt the envoys’ visit to Ukraine with overnight strikes on Kyiv’s two airports. “Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Officials visiting Ukraine have largely traveled by train, as Ukrainian airspace has been closed since 2022 due to the war.
On Friday, Russia carried out overnight strikes, killing five people and wounding five more at a factory in the southern Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha. He said those killed were factory employees who were “doing their job when enemy missiles cut off their lives.”
A 62-year-old man was wounded, and several homes and a building were damaged in another attack on the region’s Nikopol district, Hanzha said.
Russia also struck a shopping center in the southern Mykolaiv region with drones overnight, damaging the building and wounding a 72-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl. Emergency services said they were repeatedly forced to withdraw due to the threat of more strikes.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched…Here is the rewritten text in fluent, natural English:
Russia launched 167 drones and ballistic missiles overnight, including jet-powered UAVs. Ukraine’s air defenses successfully intercepted 128 of the drones, according to the air force. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry reported that it had shot down 53 Ukrainian drones during the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs regarding Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushners visit to Moscow to restart Ukraine talks
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
Answer Steve Witkoff is a real estate investor who serves as a special envoy for the Middle East in the current US administration Jared Kushner is a businessman and former White House advisor Both are acting as unofficial diplomatic representatives for the US in this context
2 Why are they going to Moscow
Answer Their main goal is to restart peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine They are going to meet with Russian officials to see if there is common ground to begin negotiations to end the conflict
3 Is this an official US government trip
Answer Yes they are traveling at the request of the administration but they are acting as special envoys rather than standard State Department diplomats This is often called backchannel or special envoy diplomacy
4 What does restarting talks mean
Answer It means they are trying to get the diplomatic process moving again Previous talks have stalled so this trip is about reopening lines of communication between the USUkraine and Russia to discuss a potential ceasefire or peace deal
5 Are they meeting with Vladimir Putin
Answer It is likely they will meet with senior Russian officials and there is a possibility they will meet with President Putin himself if the talks progress However a direct meeting is not always guaranteed on the first visit
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 Why are these specific businessmen being sent instead of professional diplomats
Answer The administration often prefers using trusted outsiders for sensitive negotiations Witkoff and Kushner have personal relationships with key players in the region and are seen as having the Presidents full trust They are also able to operate with more flexibility and less bureaucratic red tape than career diplomats
7 What is the current status of the Ukraine war that makes this trip necessary
Answer The conflict has been ongoing for years resulting in massive casualties and economic damage Despite various international efforts a diplomatic solution has not been reached The trip aims to break the current deadlock and explore new terms for a settlement
