US envoys are expected to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend as Washington seeks to restart diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. The return of American negotiators has raised fresh hopes that stalled peace talks could gain momentum.
Witkoff and Kushner Set for Meetings
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that US negotiators would hold meetings in both capitals in the coming days. He said Ukraine was ready for substantive, high-level negotiations and welcomed continued American involvement in the peace process.
Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow on September 5 and 6. The Kremlin has not officially confirmed the visit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the reports during a later briefing.
Witkoff and Kushner last visited Moscow in January. Their return would mark a renewed US effort to engage directly with both sides after months of limited diplomatic activity.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s negotiating team remains in close contact with Washington and is preparing for the expected meetings. He stressed that continued US involvement remains important as Kyiv looks for a path toward a possible settlement.
Russia Signals Possible Opening
The renewed diplomatic activity comes after months of uncertainty over the future of negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently described the talks as effectively frozen.
However, Putin struck a more positive tone on Thursday while speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East. He said several countries, including the United States and China, were prepared to support efforts toward a peace agreement.
According to Reuters, Putin said he believed there was a chance for a settlement and expressed appreciation for countries attempting to help bring the conflict to an end.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also pointed to what he called a “new dynamic” in the peace efforts. He said greater political and diplomatic engagement could create opportunities for progress.
The biggest obstacle remains territory. Russian officials have previously made clear that territorial issues must be addressed before Moscow would consider a long-term settlement. Kyiv, meanwhile, has repeatedly rejected demands that would require Ukraine to surrender territory.
Fighting Continues Despite Diplomatic Efforts
The renewed push for negotiations comes as fighting continues across Ukraine and attacks have intensified on both sides.
Russian strikes overnight killed at least three people in Ukraine, according to local officials. A major attack on the southern Odesa region killed one person and injured at least five others, including a child. The strikes also damaged residential buildings, including several high-rise blocks.
Two police officers were killed in attacks on Dnipro, officials said, while a drone strike in Kyiv injured three people after hitting a residential building.
Ukraine has also continued launching long-range drone attacks against targets inside Russia. Kyiv has increasingly focused on energy facilities and other economic targets in an effort to put pressure on Moscow’s war effort.
A large Ukrainian drone attack also struck the Black Sea resort city of Sochi and the nearby Sirius district, according to regional officials. Fires were reported in both areas.
With military strikes continuing, the expected meetings in Moscow and Kyiv could provide an important test of whether Washington can bring the two sides back toward serious negotiations. For now, both diplomacy and battlefield operations remain active, leaving the prospects for a settlement uncertain.
