Witkoff and Kushner head abroad to discuss Ukraine peace, Trump says

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are being sent abroad with what Donald Trump called a new idea for peace, even as earlier US efforts to end the war in Ukraine have largely stalled.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said the United States had a “fresh concrete proposal” aimed at ending the conflict, now in its fifth year. He did not explain the proposal or say whether Witkoff and Kushner would travel to Ukraine, Russia, or both.

“We have an idea for peace,” Trump said. “I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They've done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we'll do it.”

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We have an idea for peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two men would fly to Ukraine on Sunday after visiting Moscow. Their itinerary had remained fluid, however, and one source said the Kyiv leg was not fully certain. Witkoff has traveled to Moscow several times but has not yet visited Ukraine.

The Trump administration's negotiations have produced little progress in recent months. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow in late August partly to press Russian counterparts to consider a settlement, according to Reuters and other media. Western intelligence officials doubt Putin is interested in a short-term deal, while Ukrainian intelligence believes Russia is more likely to escalate than de-escalate soon. On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in Kyiv, one of the most prominent targets hit during the war.

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I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They've done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we'll do it.