US President Donald Trump has sent his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to Russia and Ukraine in a renewed attempt to revive peace talks and bring an end to the ongoing war.
The two US representatives arrived in Moscow on Saturday, September 5, 2026, carrying a new proposal from Trump aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They were received at Vnukovo Airport by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Trump had announced the mission on Friday, saying Witkoff and Kushner were travelling to Moscow and Kyiv to determine whether a peace agreement could be reached.
The US President said his envoys had an idea for peace and expressed optimism that their discussions could produce progress after months of stalled diplomatic efforts.
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to hold discussions with Russian officials in Moscow before travelling to Kyiv on Sunday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy confirmed that he was preparing for the visit and said Ukraine wanted the talks to be constructive and focused on finding practical ways to bring the war to an end.
The Ukrainian president has also called for a temporary halt to air attacks while the US envoys are in the region, saying such a measure would help create safer conditions for the diplomatic mission.
The renewed peace effort comes despite continued fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with both sides still carrying out drone and missile attacks.
Recent Russian strikes have caused casualties in Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces have continued attacks on Russian targets, including oil and energy infrastructure. The latest escalation has increased the pressure for a diplomatic breakthrough.
The latest mission is not the first time Witkoff and Kushner have been involved in US efforts to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. The pair previously travelled to Moscow and held lengthy discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, previous rounds of negotiations failed to produce a lasting agreement, with Russia and Ukraine remaining sharply divided over territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO.
The Trump administration is now hoping the latest diplomatic push can reopen negotiations and establish a pathway towards a ceasefire and eventual peace agreement, although major differences between Moscow and Kyiv remain unresolved.