Overview: Trump Sends Envoys to Push for an End to the Ukraine War

A new U.S. diplomatic push to end the Ukraine war could bring movement to stalled negotiations, with Donald Trump sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two men were expected to visit Moscow first and travel to Kyiv on Sunday, in what would be their first visit to the Ukrainian capital. Trump confirmed at the White House that he had sent the negotiators. He said they would carry a proposal to end the war, but provided no specific dates or details.

“We sent them there to see whether we can achieve something,” Trump said. He again expressed optimism, despite the absence of a breakthrough in previous U.S. mediation efforts. Trump had previously said he could end the war within 24 hours.

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We sent them there to see whether we can achieve something.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would avoid air attacks while the U.S. representatives traveled, as it had during earlier diplomatic visits. He said Ukraine would ensure the safety of Russian airspace and expected Moscow to respond reciprocally. Air raid alerts and reports of explosions around Kyiv nevertheless followed overnight, while Russian officials remained cautious. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to announce when Witkoff and Kushner might arrive, saying Russia would provide information if the contacts took place.

The New York Times reported that negotiations over the trip had continued for weeks. According to the newspaper, Washington sought a temporary halt to Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and Russian energy infrastructure while the envoys were in Russia, while Russia was expected to suspend missile attacks on Kyiv. No official confirmation of a weekend ceasefire had been issued.

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I will not announce anything. If these contacts take place, we will inform you.