US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow with a proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by local Russian media on Saturday. Following meetings in Russia, they are expected to visit Kyiv to continue discussions, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The diplomatic effort comes amid a temporary halt in airstrikes ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and a reciprocal pause announced by Kyiv, intended to create a safer environment for negotiations. This marks a significant development in efforts to resume dialogue between the parties involved.
Details of the Peace Proposal Remain Unclear
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that Kushner and Witkoff were dispatched to Moscow and Kyiv with a peace plan, though specific components of the proposal were not disclosed. Trump suggested they have “an idea for peace” but did not clarify whether it includes territorial concessions, a point he has previously hinted at.
Both Kushner and Witkoff have prior experience as peace envoys in the Middle East and Ukraine, but this trip represents their first visit to Ukraine since the president’s reelection last year.
Airstrike Pauses in Moscow and Kyiv During Talks
To facilitate the negotiations, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced a pause in Kyiv’s airstrikes and called on Moscow to agree to a similar cessation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin ordered a no-strike period against Kyiv for three days starting at midnight on Saturday.
Zelenskyy emphasized concern for the safety of the US envoys and assured the protection of Russian airspace to allow their safe arrival.
Tensions Persist Despite Diplomatic Moves
Despite the diplomatic efforts, hostilities continue in other forms. On Friday, a Russian drone strike targeted the headquarters of Ukraine’s domestic security service in Kyiv. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as a major escalation and criticized it as undermining peace efforts.
Zelenskyy responded by ordering a proportional response to mirror the strike where possible. Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil infrastructure and commercial sites with drone attacks in recent operations.
