U.S. special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday as the Trump administration launched a renewed diplomatic effort to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The visit comes at a critical moment, with diplomatic efforts having struggled to produce a lasting agreement while fighting and long-range strikes continue between the two sides. Witkoff and Kushner were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, according to people familiar with the visit.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the two envoys were carrying a new proposal intended to help bring the conflict to an end. Trump did not publicly disclose the details of the proposal, saying only that Washington had an idea for peace and that there could be a chance of making progress.
The Moscow visit is expected to be followed by a trip to Kyiv on Sunday, where the American delegation is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The sequence of meetings reflects Washington's attempt to engage both sides directly and determine whether there is enough common ground for negotiations to move forward.
The diplomatic push is taking place against a backdrop of continued military escalation. Russia and Ukraine have continued launching drones and missiles at targets far beyond the front line, while fighting persists in eastern Ukraine. A Russian drone strike recently hit the headquarters of Ukraine's security service in central Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials reporting injuries.
The timing of the American delegation's journey has therefore attracted particular attention. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would refrain from air strikes during the envoys' travel and called on Moscow to take similar steps to provide a safer environment for the diplomatic mission. Russia has also announced a temporary pause in strikes on Kyiv during the delegation's visit.
Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, major obstacles remain. Moscow has continued to insist on its position regarding territorial issues, while Kyiv has remained wary of Russian intentions and has emphasized the need for a settlement that protects Ukraine's sovereignty and security.
Russian officials have nevertheless indicated that diplomacy remains possible. President Vladimir Putin recently said there was a chance for a settlement and expressed appreciation for countries attempting to contribute to the process.
For Washington, the latest mission represents another attempt to break a prolonged diplomatic deadlock. For Moscow and Kyiv, the talks could provide an opportunity to test whether a new American proposal can address the fundamental disagreements that have kept previous negotiations from producing a comprehensive peace.
Whether the meetings lead to a breakthrough remains uncertain. But with Witkoff and Kushner travelling between Moscow and Kyiv, the Trump administration is once again placing direct diplomacy at the centre of its effort to end Europe's largest ongoing war.