U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner set for talks in Kyiv after meeting Putin in Moscow

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made their inaugural visit to Ukraine on September 6, 2023, as part of Washington's diplomatic initiative to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The duo's arrival followed a lengthy meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, described by both sides as "substantive." The envoys were greeted upon their arrival in Kyiv by high-ranking Ukrainian officials, including Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov, parliamentary leader of President Zelensky's party David Arakhamia, and intelligence chief Rustem Umerov.

Later, Witkoff and Kushner met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky expressed his interest in ending the war, emphasizing the need for peace, security guarantees, and a dignified postwar peace. The envoys are anticipated to hold further discussions with the visitors later in the day. It is reported that national security advisors from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are also expected to participate in the talks.

Witkoff and Kushner are visiting Ukraine for the first time due to the renewed U.S.-led effort to broker a resolution to the ongoing four-and-a-half-year Russian invasion of Ukraine. The peace negotiations have been at a stalemate since earlier this year, with Russia refusing to agree to a ceasefire along the present front lines and demanding that Kyiv abandon Donbas, a strategically vital eastern region partially occupied by Russia, and abandon its NATO membership ambitions.

Budanov stated that the U.S.-mediated peace discussions could resume in late September, following the Russian State Duma elections and preceding the U.S. midterm elections. However, Russia has shown no indication of relenting on its territorial demands, while Ukraine warns that Russian forces are gearing up for intensified attacks during winter.

The Moscow talks did not result in a breakthrough, as Putin stated he expects Russia to achieve its goals and that Moscow aims to resolve the root causes of the war. A White House official confirmed that the two parties discussed "substantive plans for next steps," which will be unveiled in the coming weeks, but did not provide further details.

Russia and Ukraine agreed to cease aerial strikes against each other's capitals to guarantee the safety of the U.S. negotiators. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on September 5 that Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days starting at midnight, according to Russian state media. Ukraine proposed a broader three-day ceasefire that would extend beyond attacks on the two capitals and encompass fighting along the front line, but Putin stated that Russia did not agree to the broader proposal.

Russian forces initiated strikes across Ukraine on September 5, including on Kyiv, according to Zelensky. Additional waves of attacks occurred on September 6, targeting Kyiv Oblast, though no hits on the city of Kyiv were reported.