US envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Moscow for talks on peace in Ukraine

U.S. presidential advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have landed in Moscow ahead of a weekend of negotiations aimed at hastening a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The duo are expected to engage in discussions with their Russian counterparts before journeying to Kyiv on Sunday for meetings with Ukraine's leadership. President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that the envoys carried a "proposal to end the war" with them.

Thus far, attempts by the U.S. and its allies to forge a peace agreement have not yielded a successful outcome. Both Russia and Ukraine have pledged to cease strikes on each other's capitals for three days while the delegation conducts its visit. Zelensky, Ukraine's president, confirmed on Saturday that he had spoken with the envoys, who have already commenced working alongside the Russian side.

"The blueprint for tomorrow's diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the U.S. team, has been sanctioned. We are anticipating the arrival of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and stand prepared for a meaningful conversation," he stated. "From today through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we anticipate the Russians to similarly abstain from targeting Kyiv."

According to Russian state media, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a suspension of strikes on Kyiv for three days due to the U.S. delegation's visit. Witkoff and Kushner were greeted by Russian official Kirill Dmitriev upon their arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. Flight tracking data indicated that a U.S. government aircraft had traveled from Helsinki, Finland, after departing from the U.S. earlier in the day.

Axios reported that the U.S. envoys would individually converse with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Witkoff and Kushner have previously visited Russia multiple times, the upcoming discussions in Ukraine would mark their first. Delegations from Ukraine have participated in talks within the U.S. over the past 18 months.

Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky reported that Russia had launched "demonstrative" strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight preceding his scheduled encounter with the U.S. delegation. Ukraine's president elaborated: "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are in reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side utilizing an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport."

Ukraine's airspace has been under a ban since Russia initiated its all-out invasion in February 2022. Zelensky assured on Friday that he would ensure the safety of Russian airspace during the envoys' visit and solicited Russia to reciprocate the favor for Ukraine. He also disclosed that an overnight Russian strike on a civilian structure in the Dnipro region resulted in four deaths and five injuries.

Witkoff and Kushner's trip to Moscow transpires just over a week after a rare visit to the Russian capital by the head of the CIA, John Ratcliffe. There was no public statement from Washington or the Kremlin regarding the discussed topics. Speaking last week, Trump characterized the meeting as "semi-routine." Earlier this year, the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia separately indicated that a deal to terminate the war was nearing fruition following a series of talks facilitated by the Americans.

European allies also engaged in talks in Paris, but the discussions culminated in no breakthrough. Persistent disagreements between the belligerents remain on matters such as territory and security assurances for Ukraine. In recent months, both Russia and Ukraine have escalated their aerial assaults as hostilities persist. Ukraine has lamented its inability to counter the onslaught due to a deficit of interceptor missiles, whereas Kyiv has concentrated its strikes on Russian economic infrastructure targets.