Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to hold meetings in Moscow and Kyiv in the coming days. Zelenskyy said Washington's active participation in the negotiation process was important.
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to Russia and Ukraine over the weekend to revive peace talks between the two countries. The envoys are expected to visit Moscow in Russia and Kyiv in Ukraine.
Moscow does not confirm schedule
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied the plans for the visit. Peskov said officials would share details once the contacts took place.
The latest round of US-mediated talks in Russia was held in February. During their most recent visit to Russia in January, Witkoff and Kushner held an approximately four-hour nighttime meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
In a statement in June, Peskov said the two envoys were occupied with other matters at the time and that contacts would resume when circumstances became suitable. Putin also said this week that they were pleased to work with Witkoff and Kushner and that the two envoys would always be welcome in Moscow.
Kyiv visit not finalized
If the visit to Ukraine goes ahead, it would be Witkoff and Kushner's first trip to Kyiv since the peace talks began under the US administration. Sunday has emerged as a possible date, but the schedule has not yet been finalized.
The envoys are planning to reach Kyiv by air, but that option is under discussion because the capital's airspace is closed. Russia's lack of a commitment to pause attacks during the visit has added to uncertainty over whether the plan can be carried out. No final decision has been made on whether the visit will be canceled.
Core disagreement persists in negotiations
The new effort to establish contacts comes after the Kremlin said the negotiations had been in a "deep pause" for a long time. Differences between Russia and Ukraine persist, while the two sides have intensified their attacks in recent weeks, causing extensive damage to commercial and industrial infrastructure.
Putin continues to demand that Ukraine give up more territory to reach a peace agreement. Ukraine rejects these conditions, saying they would amount to surrender.
On Thursday, Putin said there was a "chance" of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the planned visits will take place and whether a new round of negotiations will begin.
