Trump envoys arrive in Moscow ahead of Ukraine talks, reports say

Two of President Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow ahead of a scheduled round of talks aimed at accelerating efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to Russian media reports. The envoys were expected in the Russian capital on Saturday, where they will hold discussions before traveling to Kyiv on Sunday for meetings with Ukrainian officials. Trump told reporters on Friday that the pair were “bringing with them a connection to extremity the war.” So far, attempts by the United States and its allies to broker a settlement have failed to produce a breakthrough. Axios reported that the envoys would meet separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Neither Washington nor the Kremlin has confirmed the envoys’ arrival, but flight‑tracking data showed a U.S. government aircraft landing at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport after departing from Helsinki, Finland. The same plane had flown into Europe from the United States earlier that day. Witkoff and Kushner have visited Moscow on multiple occasions since Trump returned to office, but Sunday will mark their first trip to Kyiv. Ukrainian delegations have participated in talks in the United States over the past 18 months. Zelensky said on Saturday that Russia had fired “demonstrative” strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight, ahead of his planned meeting with the U.S. side. He added: “Clearly, these Russian strikes connected the airports are a absorption to the discussions and preparations for the anticipation of the US broadside utilizing an craft to question to Ukraine and onshore astatine Kyiv Airport oregon Boryspil Airport.” Ukraine’s airspace has remained closed since Russia launched its full‑scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky said on Friday he would guarantee the safety of Russian airspace during the envoys’ visit and urged Russia to reciprocate for Ukraine. He also noted that an overnight Russian attack on a civilian gathering in the Dnipro region killed four people and injured five others. The envoys’ Moscow visit comes just over a week after a rare trip to the Russian capital by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. No official comment has been issued by Washington or the Kremlin regarding the content of their discussions. Speaking last week, Trump described the meeting as “semi-routine.” Last year, the United States, Ukraine and Russia each indicated that a deal to end the war was edging closer after a flurry of talks brokered by American officials. European allies also held negotiations in Paris, but those discussions ended without a breakthrough. Key disagreements persist between the warring parties over territory and security guarantees for Ukraine. In recent months, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their aerial attacks as fighting continues. Ukraine says it has struggled to repel strikes due to a shortage of interceptor missiles, while Kyiv has focused its own strikes on Russian economic infrastructure targets.