Trump Envoys Witkoff and Kushner Arrive in Moscow for Ukraine Peace Talks
- special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Sept.
- Kirill Dmitriev, who leads negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the conflict, welcomed Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Vnukovo Airport.
- While both envoys have traveled to Russia previously for talks with Vladimir Putin, this trip marks their first visit to Kyiv.
U.S. special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Sept. 5, 2026, to hold Ukraine war talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, carrying what U.S. President Donald Trump described as a fresh concrete peace proposal. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev greeted the American envoys upon their landing at Vnukovo Airport.
Diplomatic Mission and Airport Arrival in Moscow
Kirill Dmitriev, who leads negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the conflict, welcomed Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Vnukovo Airport. Dmitriev, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, previously participated in negotiating U.S. sanction waivers for Russian oil earlier in the year. U.S. President Donald Trump noted on Sept. 4 that Washington possessed a fresh concrete proposal to end the war, now in its fifth year, though he did not disclose specific details about its contents.
Upcoming Schedule in Kyiv and Previous Intelligence Contacts
Following their discussions in Moscow, the U.S. envoys plan to travel to Kyiv on Sept. 6 to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While both envoys have traveled to Russia previously for talks with Vladimir Putin, this trip marks their first visit to Kyiv. The diplomatic mission follows shortly after a brief, unannounced visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to meet with his Russian counterparts.
Strikes, Stances, and Ongoing Division on the Ground
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day pause to strikes on Kyiv beginning on Sept. 5, according to Russian news agencies. Concurrently, while the American representatives traveled to Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on X that Russian forces hit two Ukrainian airports. The Kremlin reaffirmed on Sept. 4 that prior demands outlined by Putin remain unshakeable, requiring Ukraine to cede the entire territory of four claimed regions and abandon its plans to join NATO.