U.S. envoys arrive in Moscow to revive peace talks with Ukraine

Two U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow on Saturday as part of an effort to restart negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after a monthslong stall.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin authorized a 72-hour pause on strikes against Kyiv to facilitate the U.S. delegation’s visit to the country, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Their visit comes as Russia escalates the yearslong conflict with an increasing number of aerial attacks.

The two men touched down at Moscow’s governmental airport at 12:52 p.m. local time, state media TASS News Agency reported. Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, shared images on social media of him greeting Witkoff and Kushner as they exited the plane.

Peskov told TASS the U.S. envoys will meet with Putin at the Kremlin later in the day.

President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Friday the two men are “bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” though he did not elaborate on what the plan entailed.

Following their meeting with Russian officials, the U.S. envoys will travel to Kyiv on Sunday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a social media post on Saturday afternoon local time, Zelensky said he had “just spoken” with Witkoff and Kushner, confirming Ukraine’s military has also halted air strikes during their visit to both countries.

The Ukrainian leader said in an earlier social media post that Russia hit two Ukrainian airports ahead of the U.S. envoys’ trip to the country.

“From the moment of this conversation, we are ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against the cities involved in the negotiation process,” Zelensky wrote. “From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv.”

The yearslong dispute between Russia and Ukraine has intensified in recent weeks. Moscow has initiated near-continuous attacks in and around Kyiv for over a week, hitting buildings, warehouses and the central headquarters for the country’s security service.

Ukraine has hit back with long-range attacks on oil storage and refining facilities in Russia.

In his Saturday statement, Zelensky expressed a commitment to having a “substantive conversation” with Kushner and Witkoff during their visit to Kyiv on Sunday.

“On the diplomatic track, our actions must be, and will be, just as strong and effective – one hundred percent,” Zelensky wrote. “The plan for tomorrow’s diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the U.S. team, has been approved. We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation.”

Witkoff and Kushner’s last known visit to Moscow was in January, before the US’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine slowed as the country entered its own military conflict with Iran. This weekend marks the pairs first time traveling to Kyiv for negotiations.