In brief
Two senior US diplomats, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Saturday to engage with President Vladimir Putin in advance of a weekend meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Trump’s administration says they carry a peace‑proposal, though no official comment has yet been made by Washington or the Kremlin. The envoys flew from Helsinki to Moscow and will depart to Kyiv on Sunday, where they are expected to meet both leaders. Zelensky has warned that Russia has struck Ukrainian airports in the days leading up to the talks, signalling a heightened risk to civilian airspace. This move comes after recent diplomatic visits, including a CIA chief’s trip to Moscow, as the UN and NATO aim to broker a cease‑fire amid ongoing aerial attacks on both sides.
US envoys land in Moscow ahead of Ukraine talks
Two senior US diplomats, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Saturday to engage with President Vladimir Putin before a weekend meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Trump’s administration says the envoys bring a proposal to end the war, but no official statement has yet come from Washington or the Kremlin. Lieutenant‑General John Ratcliffe visited Moscow a day earlier, underscoring the heightened diplomatic activity.
The delegation flew from Helsinki to Moscow via a government aircraft. On Sunday, they will depart for Kyiv, where they are scheduled to meet both sides simultaneously.
During the visit, Zelensky warned that Russia has carried “demonstrative” strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil airports ahead of the talks, and has recently targeted a civilian building in the Dnipro region, killing four and wounding five.
Ukraine’s airspace remains closed since Russia launched its full‑scale invasion in February 2022, and Zelensky has pledged to ensure safe passage for Russian aircraft during the envoys’ visit, calling for reciprocal guarantees for Ukraine.
Although the meetings have been described as “semi‑routine” by Trump, the outcomes could shape the future of the conflict in the region.
