Ryabkov: The American administration must take into account the facts on the ground in Ukraine

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in response to a question about the visit of US envoys Steve Witkov and Jared Kushner to Moscow, said that the US administration should take into account the facts on the ground, as the situation is changing against Kiev regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, according to what was reported by the official Russian “TASS” news agency.

“The fundamental question is the extent to which the US administration is willing to invest in finding a real solution to the current crisis, taking into account the facts on the ground - among other things,” Ryabkov said. “(This includes) not only the root causes that we are constantly discussing, but also the situation itself, which is constantly changing, which is not in Kiev’s favor,” according to TASS.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister added: “The truth is that the situation, as it changed during the Anchorage summit and after it, raised many questions about the extent of the American side’s readiness - in dealing with the range of issues that require a solution - to remain within the limits of rationality and avoid surrendering to political interests or to the influence of opponents of the settlement.”

These questions are still open, he said.

Ryabkov hinted that Ukraine is facing difficulties on the battlefield, and that the United States should take this into account.

Meanwhile, Russian official media reported the arrival of US President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkopf and Jared Kushner, to Moscow on Saturday, where they are expected to discuss prospects for ending the war, which has entered its fifth year.

Kirill Dmitriev, the special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, received them at Vnukovo Airport, according to official media reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that two Russian missiles targeted two airports near Kiev, one of which was Boryspil Airport designated for international flights.

Zelensky said: “It is clear that these Russian strikes on airports are a reaction to discussions and preparations related to the possibility of the American side using an aircraft to reach Ukraine.”

Since the outbreak of war, foreign leaders have been traveling to Kiev by rail from Poland. It is not clear whether the announced Russian strikes will lead to a change in the US delegation's plans.

The American mission comes in conjunction with almost continuous Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, including a direct targeting of the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Service in Kiev, on Friday.

Zelensky said that the acute shortage of air defense interceptor missiles made Ukraine vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks.

Trump described both Witkoff and Kushner as "brilliant negotiators" while he was at the White House on Friday, noting that sending them aimed to "see if we can get something done."

But Russian officials indicated that Moscow was not expected to make concessions.

A group of important industrial cities in the eastern Donetsk region faces an increasing threat from Russian forces, which have made gradual progress in recent months.

Zelensky welcomed the visit of Witkov and Kushner scheduled for Sunday, and said: “Our goal is to conduct the visit and hold negotiations with the American side that are as constructive and objective as possible. We need to search for realistic options on how to end this war.”

An American official told CNN on Friday that US President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are planning to visit Moscow and Kiev in the coming days to push for a diplomatic solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

The visit to the Ukrainian capital will be the first trip for the envoys to this country, which has been witnessing war for years and has been subjected to a constant barrage of Russian attacks in recent weeks. Note that they had previously visited Moscow in the past.

On Friday, the official Russian news agency TASS quoted unnamed sources as saying that the visits will take place on September 5 and 6.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said that his country is "open to holding concrete negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine," despite his description of the Ukrainian leadership as "terrorists."

Putin added in statements: “We want to end the war and achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace throughout Ukraine and Europe, and we are ready to engage in this negotiation process with any party that shows a willingness to do so.”