Witkoff, Kushner to visit Russia, Ukraine in effort to jump-start peace talks

Two top U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Russia and Ukraine this weekend in an effort to restart peace negotiations between the two countries, according to multiple reports.

Witkoff and Kushner — President Trump’s special envoy and son-in-law, respectively — will first meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, The New York Times reported.

The duo will then travel to Kyiv on Sunday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a Ukrainian source with knowledge of these plans confirmed to The Hill’s broadcast partner, NewsNation.

Zelensky also confirmed the U.S. delegation’s trip to Kyiv in a statement shared on social media Friday afternoon, citing details confirmed by Trump’s team.

The Ukrainian leader confirmed his military will hold off on launching airstrikes during this trip “so that the negotiators can arrive safely.”

“Our goal is to make the visit and the talks with the U.S. side as constructive and substantive as possible,” Zelensky wrote. “We need to look for real options for how to move this war toward an end. We will see what proposals Steve and Jared bring and what they are told in Moscow in response.”

The details of these peace talks have not been disclosed. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

The trip will mark the first trip to the Ukrainian capital for both Witkoff and Kushner. Both men have made several visits to Moscow during the conflict. It also follows CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced visit to Moscow last week.

Russian state-run news agency TASS reported Friday that the U.S. envoys planned to travel to the country “soon,” citing unnamed sources.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a Friday statement shared by TASS that there are no set conditions yet to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, there are no specific prerequisites yet. Work continues and communication is ongoing,” Peskov added, according to the state-run outlet.

The reported travel plans come amid escalating attacks in the years-long war between Russia and Ukraine, as each side rejects the other’s demands and Putin continues to push Ukraine to give up a large portion of its territory.

Moscow has launched a near-continuous attack on Kyiv for the past eight days, striking buildings, warehouses and the central headquarters for Ukraine’s security service. Ukraine’s military has responded with long-range attacks on Russian oil storage and refining facilities.