Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Moscow with proposal to end war

U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner touched down in Moscow on September 5, according to Russian media reports. Their arrival at Vnukovo Airport was met by Russian special representative Kirill Dmitriev. Flightradar data indicated that a U.S. Air Force aircraft, identified as SAM934, had flown from Miami to Moscow via Helsinki earlier that morning.

This Boeing C-32A aircraft, typically used to transport high-ranking U.S. officials, became the most-tracked plane on Flightradar that day. On September 4, President Donald Trump had announced that Witkoff and Kushner would bring a proposal to Moscow for ending the war. The same day, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the visit, stating it would take place in Moscow on September 5 and Kyiv on September 6.

Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's commitment to refraining from airstrikes on Russian territory during the delegation's visit, and called on Moscow to do the same. The New York Times, based on U.S. officials' accounts, indicated that negotiations for this trip had been ongoing for several weeks. The U.S. had urged Ukraine to temporarily cease drone attacks on Moscow and Russian energy facilities while the negotiators were in Russia, and likewise asked Russia to halt missile strikes on Kyiv.

However, the Kyiv Independent reported that the delegation's visit to Ukraine was uncertain due to Witkoff's concerns amid Russian attacks. President Zelenskyy had spoken with Witkoff and Kushner on August 31 to discuss a potential visit date, the current situation on the front lines, and Russian air attacks. On August 24, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine, along with Trump's representatives and European officials, had crafted a new plan for ending the war, which included a ceasefire, mutual troop withdrawal from the front line, and the establishment of a buffer zone.

Witkoff and Kushner were also scheduled to visit Ukraine on that day, marking Ukraine's Independence Day, but the trip was ultimately postponed. Witkoff had made six visits to Russia in 2025 and a sixth one in late January 2026, but had never visited Ukraine despite receiving multiple official invitations.