WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a fresh diplomatic push to end the Russia-Ukraine war, sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv with what Trump described as a new proposal for peace.
The high-stakes mission comes as the war enters its fifth year, with previous negotiations failing to produce a lasting breakthrough and fighting continuing across Ukraine.
Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Moscow and met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin for more than three hours on Saturday, September 5, before their expected trip to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump Says Envoys Carry a Plan to End the War
Trump said the two envoys were sent overseas to explore whether a negotiated settlement could finally be reached between Moscow and Kyiv.
The U.S. president said Washington had a “concrete proposal” aimed at ending the conflict, although the details of the plan have not been publicly disclosed.
The mission marks another major attempt by the Trump administration to restart diplomacy after peace efforts stalled in recent months.
Witkoff has previously held talks with Russian officials, while the latest trip is particularly significant because it is expected to include a visit to Kyiv by both American envoys.
Putin Meets Trump Envoys in Kremlin
Putin welcomed Witkoff and Kushner to the Kremlin as Washington attempted to revive negotiations that have struggled to bridge the vast differences between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian officials later described the discussions as useful and constructive, but no breakthrough or agreement was announced.
According to reports, the American delegation presented several ideas for a possible settlement, while Putin reiterated Moscow’s position on what it considers the underlying causes of the war. Major disagreements over territory and Ukraine’s future security arrangements remain unresolved.
The talks reportedly also touched on potential future economic cooperation between Russia and the United States, highlighting how the negotiations could extend beyond the battlefield.
A Temporary Pause as Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
The diplomatic mission unfolded alongside an unusual temporary de-escalation.
Putin ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv, while Ukraine also agreed to halt attacks on Moscow during the period of negotiations, according to multiple reports.
The limited pause was intended to create safer conditions while the American envoys traveled between Moscow and Kyiv. However, it does not amount to a nationwide ceasefire or an agreement to halt the wider war.
That distinction remains critical: while the capitals may temporarily be spared from direct strikes, fighting and military operations elsewhere have continued.
Peace Talks Begin as Fighting Continues
The diplomatic initiative comes against the backdrop of continuing Russian attacks across Ukraine and Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
Recent attacks have caused civilian casualties and renewed fears that the conflict could escalate further even as diplomats attempt to reopen a path toward negotiations. Reports from international media said several people were killed and injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine around the time of the U.S. diplomatic mission.
Zelenskyy has also raised concerns over Russian strikes affecting Kyiv-area infrastructure, including airports, ahead of the expected arrival of the American delegation.
Kyiv Visit Could Be the Next Crucial Test
Following their Moscow talks, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
The visit could provide Washington with a clearer picture of whether there is enough common ground to restart direct negotiations—or whether the differences between Moscow and Kyiv remain too wide.
Russia has maintained its demands regarding territory and broader security issues, while Ukraine has repeatedly resisted concessions that could involve surrendering land or weakening its long-term security guarantees. Those opposing positions remain among the biggest obstacles to any peace deal.
Can Trump’s New Peace Push Succeed?
Trump’s decision to send two of his closest negotiators directly to Moscow and Kyiv signals renewed urgency in Washington’s effort to end Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades.
But despite the high-level meetings and the temporary pause in attacks on the two capitals, there is still no announced peace agreement.
The Kremlin said the Moscow talks were useful—but stopped short of declaring a breakthrough.
Now, attention turns to Kyiv.
Can Trump’s envoys find a compromise that neither Putin nor Zelenskyy has been willing to accept—or will this latest diplomatic mission become another failed attempt to stop a war that has already reshaped global politics and security?
For now, the world is watching the next stop on the journey: Kyiv.
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