Witkoff & Kushner to spend Labor Day weekend in Russia, Ukraine

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will reportedly travel to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend in an effort to revive negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. It will mark the diplomatic duo’s first trip to Kyiv since President Donald Trump’s return to office, and follows CIA director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow last week.“It is unclear whether the Americans are bringing new proposals to the two presidents, or are pushing them to close the gap on the remaining issues, which include who will ultimately control the Donbas, Ukrainian territory that is partly occupied by Russia,” according to a New York Times report. George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute, called the development “most welcome” and said all parties had strong reasons to find a way to end the fighting. He cautioned, however, that “seizing this propitious moment will require overcoming deep mistrust between the two countries” and addressing doubt that the “Trump administration has the political clout and persistence to overcome opposition in Europe and inside the Washington establishment.” Diplomatic efforts have been on hold since the start of the U.S. war in Iran at the end of February. News of the trip was initially reported by Russian state media outlet TASS and Axios. Reuters later reported that it was not yet finalized due to security concerns from the American side. The attempt to resume diplomacy comes at a time of escalating violence on both sides. Just on Friday, a drone of unknown origin reportedly targeted the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Service in the capital. Kyiv’s mayor said nine were injured in the attack. In July, civilian deaths in Ukraine hit their highest levels since the first year of the war.Ukraine has also ramped up its own deep strikes inside Russian territory. However, while Russian forces have moved closer to Ukraine’s two remaining “fortress cities” in Donetsk, their advance has been slow. In confirming the news of Witkoff and Kushner’s visit on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged that there “will be no air strikes from our side, and Russia must do the same, ensuring there are no air strikes from its side for the time needed to hold these talks and handle the logistical matters related to this American visit.”Beebe says that both Kyiv and Moscow will seek certain assurances during negotiations. Ukraine will want to ensure that it will not be left without support in case of future Russian invasion, while Moscow will seek understandings about broader European security matters and will seek normalized diplomatic and economic relations with Washington.Accomplishing these goals, and others, will not be possible without American involvement. “Neither Russia nor Ukraine can get the assurances they each need to end the fighting without the United States’ playing a central role in negotiations,” Beebe said.