US envoys Witkoff and Kushner set for talks in Kyiv after meeting with Putin in Moscow

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday for their inaugural visit to the Ukrainian capital as part of a renewed initiative for peace amidst Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This trip follows a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday. Both Witkoff and Kushner, who is also the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, aim to revive peace talks amidst the escalating aerial conflict between the two nations.

The air war has intensified as both sides struggle to make significant progress along the 1,250-kilometer front line. Russia has recently employed fast-flying, jet-powered drones, and the constant wail of air-raid sirens has become a daily occurrence in Kyiv. In an effort to cease the hostilities temporarily, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a pause in strikes on each other's capitals during the talks.

However, the momentum for Washington's peace efforts has waned as the U.S. has been preoccupied with the Iran war for the past six months. The last known meeting between Witkoff, Kushner, and Putin at the Kremlin in January resulted in a constructive, frank, and useful discussion, though no specific outcomes were announced. According to Russia's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, the conversation covered a wide range of topics, including economic issues and potential joint projects between Russia and America.