US President Donald Trump said his envoys are carrying a proposal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine as they travel to both Kyiv and Moscow, speaking to reporters at the White House on September 4.
Trump said the envoys were bringing with them a proposal to end the war, though he did not give details. He said he had sent them to find out whether they could achieve something, and that there was possibly a decent chance of that.
The envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are two of Trump's closest emissaries on the war. Witkoff has been the administration's lead special envoy on the conflict, while Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a senior White House adviser, has also taken part in the diplomatic effort.
Trump downplays fears over NATO
Trump made the comments while addressing growing concern in the West that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attack a NATO member country to test the alliance's resolve. He again said he did not believe the Kremlin leader was planning such a move.
He said he talked to Putin and knew him very well, and that Putin had no intention of attacking NATO territory.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the military alliance of the United States, Canada and dozens of European states, built around a mutual defense commitment. Concerns about its eastern members have grown since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kyiv visit set for September 6
Earlier the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the envoys would visit Kyiv on Sunday, September 6, after first traveling to Moscow.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces would ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace so the negotiators could arrive safely, and he called on Moscow to also refrain from strikes for the duration of the talks.
Trip had been delayed since August
The visit to Kyiv had originally been planned for August but was postponed amid an escalation in Russian strikes on Ukraine. Witkoff and Kushner had already visited Moscow before the postponement.
Talks between Ukraine and Russia on possible terms for ending the war have been stalled for several months. Earlier rounds held in the Middle East and in Switzerland, with US involvement, produced no substantive results. The only agreement reached in those discussions covered prisoner exchanges.
In early August, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Washington intended to step up its efforts toward a peace settlement in Ukraine.
Kremlin and Zelensky trade accusations
Trump has repeatedly said he believes Russia is interested in ending the war and that Moscow should reach a deal with Ukraine.
The Kremlin, however, has said that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory are not bringing personal contact between Putin and Zelensky over ending the war any closer.
Zelensky has said Putin remains determined to continue the war and has called on the international community to increase pressure on the Kremlin.
