US Envoys Witkoff and Kushner to Visit Russia and Ukraine for Conflict Settlement Talks
Quick Look
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend to negotiate a settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Axios citing administration sources.
- The envoys will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, following a White House meeting with President Trump on Thursday.
- The visit comes 10 days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow, where he met with Russian intelligence heads.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The visit comes 10 days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with the heads of Russian intelligence and security services in Moscow on August 25, as part of ongoing communication between the two countries' intelligence agencies.
WASHINGTON, September 4. /TASS/. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia this weekend, Axios news web portal reported citing its sources in the US administration.
According to Axios, Witkoff and Kushner are set to arrive in Moscow later on Friday as they will be "visiting Moscow and Kiev this weekend to negotiate a settlement of the conflict."
TASS reached out to the White House for confirmation of the visit, but hasn't yet received a response.
"Witkoff and Kushner will travel on Friday, hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday [September 5] and then meet with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday [September 6]," according to Axios.
Axios also reported that "Witkoff and Kushner met with President Trump at the White House Thursday[September 3] to discuss the trip," which comes "10 days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with the heads of the Russian intelligence and security services in Moscow."
Earlier, a TASS source reported that Witkoff and Kushner intend to travel to Moscow and Kiev on September 5-6.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in his Friday press briefing earlier in the day that the Kremlin would inform about contacts between the Russian government and Witkoff and Kushner when they take place.
The CIA chief visited Moscow on August 25. Russian Presidential Spokesman Peskov said that the trip was part of communication between the two countries’ intelligence agencies. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin confirmed that he had met with the CIA director during his visit to Moscow.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The talks between Witkoff, Kushner, Putin, and Zelensky will result in a framework for de-escalation or preliminary steps toward a ceasefire.
Possible · Within days
The Kremlin will release details of the meetings with Witkoff and Kushner after they occur, as indicated by Peskov's statement.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific proposals will Witkoff and Kushner bring to the negotiations?
- Will the talks result in any immediate ceasefire or de-escalation measures?
- How will the Ukrainian government respond to the US-led negotiation initiative?
- What is the exact agenda for the meetings with Putin and Zelensky?
