MOSCOW, Sept 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner 
landed in Moscow on Saturday to discuss a plan to end more than four years of 
war between Russia and Ukraine.

After talks in Moscow the pair, sent by US President Donald Trump, are 
expected to travel on to Kyiv in Washington's latest bid to break a 
diplomatic stalemate in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to disrupt 
the envoys' visit with overnight strikes on Kyiv's two airports, as well as 
on a civilian target in the Dnipro region that killed five people.

"Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the 
discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an 
aircraft to travel to Ukraine," Zelensky said on X, adding there would be "no 
threats to diplomacy" from the Ukrainian side.

It will be the first time that Trump's businessman friend Witkoff and son-in-
law Kushner have visited war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last 
year with a pledge to resolve the conflict.

Travelling to Kyiv by plane would be a highly unusual move, with Ukrainian 
airspace closed since 2022 because of the war. Visiting leaders and officials 
have largely travelled by train.

The envoys are expected in Kyiv on Sunday, a senior Ukrainian official told 
AFP, while US outlet Axios reported they would meet Russian President 
Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.

Trump told reporters that the two negotiators would seek to gauge whether 
progress was possible towards peace in the conflict.

Peace efforts have stalled due to Washington's war with Iran, while Moscow 
and Kyiv have intensified long-range attacks, driving up civilian casualties 
to levels not seen since the start of fighting.

"I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They've done 
a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something 
done. And there may be a good chance that we'll do it," Trump said.

"They're bringing with them a proposal to end the war," he said.

The US president would not say whether the plan involved Ukraine ceding 
territory as he has previously suggested, but added: "We have an idea for 
peace."

Witkoff and Kushner, who have been involved in negotiations for ceasefires in 
Gaza and Iran, have travelled repeatedly to Moscow in previous attempts at 
diplomacy.

- Grinding war -

The renewed push for diplomacy comes as Russia and Ukraine pummel each other 
with long-range missile and drone attacks.

Just hours before Trump's announcement on Friday, a Russian drone struck the 
headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in central Kyiv, according to 
Zelensky.

The strike, which Zelensky said was aimed at the office of the agency's 
acting chief, was the first on its headquarters since the start of the 
invasion.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the strike, the Ukrainian president 
proposed observing a ceasefire with Russia for the duration of the US envoys' 
trip.

"There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure 
a ceasefire -- without its own airstrikes -- for the duration needed to 
conduct these talks," he said in his evening address.

Russia did not immediately comment on the proposal.

Hours later, Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military 
administration, said a Russian strike killed four people and wounded five in 
the southeastern city of Kamianske.

Witkoff and Kusher's trip comes more than week after a rare visit to Moscow 
by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against any attack on NATO 
member states, according to US media.

Earlier this week, the United States welcomed the Russian finance minister at 
a G20 gathering in North Carolina.