Trump Envoys Witkoff, Kushner Expected to Visit Moscow, Kyiv This Weekend
Center-LeftRigor 5914 sources
The Story
US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend for peace talks. They are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, September 5, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday, September 6. This would mark their first visit to Kyiv for talks. Witkoff and Kushner lead President Donald Trump's efforts to broker a peace deal. Zelensky confirmed on Thursday that tentative dates have been set for the envoys' visit to Kyiv in the coming days. Russia's state news agency Tass reported the visit for September 5-6. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm, stating details would be announced when these contacts take place. The visit to Kyiv is reportedly under threat due to Russian intimidation, with a source telling Kyiv Independent that Witkoff is scared to travel. A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that the US is seeking commitments from both sides to ensure the negotiators' safety. Russian attacks killed at least three people in Ukraine overnight Friday. A Russian drone hit the office of Ukraine's security chief Oleksandr Poklad in Kyiv on Friday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated some delegations postponed visits to Ukraine amid Russian escalation. Putin said on Thursday there are chances for a peace deal but showed no sign of backing down from maximalist demands, which Kyiv and its European allies reject as capitulation. CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence chiefs in Moscow 10 days prior.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend for peace talks.
- The envoys are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
- This visit would mark Witkoff and Kushner's first talks in Kyiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Thursday that "tentative dates have been set" for the envoys' visit to Kyiv.
Where they split
- Some sources, including The Independent and Kyiv Independent, report that the visit to Kyiv is "under threat" or "thrown into doubt" due to Russian intimidation and that Witkoff is "scared" to travel, while other sources like BBC News and Axios report the visit as planned without emphasizing these concerns.
- Reuters and The Straits Times mention that the US is seeking commitments from both sides to ensure the negotiators' safety, a detail not explicitly highlighted in all other reports.
- TASS and other Russian state media outlets report the visit dates as September 5-6, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm the visit, stating details would be announced "when these contacts take place."