US envoys make first Kyiv visit amid Ukraine war peace push

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Kyiv on Sunday (Sep 6) to push for an end to Russia's four-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine. The pair met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials in central Kyiv. Kushner and Witkoff had previously held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, but no breakthrough was achieved.

Previous US-mediated peace talks under Trump's administration have also been unsuccessful. The US has suggested a fresh proposal, though details remain unclear. Zelenskyy believes Washington will be crucial to reaching a peace deal and has stated that a window of opportunity to make peace exists before the US focuses on presidential elections next summer.

Security guarantees and a dignified post-war peace are key demands from Ukraine. The British, French, and German national security advisers were also in Kyiv on Sunday, though their specific meetings were not disclosed. Residents of Kyiv expressed hope that a resolution could come swiftly, while some expressed a desire for Ukraine to remain undisturbed.

Despite a lull in front-line fighting, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have stepped up long-range air strikes in recent weeks.