U.S. Embassy Jerusalem / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Jared Kushner set to visit Russia and possibly Ukraine this weekend in peace push
The trip to Kyiv would mark the first time Trump's envoys have visited the Ukrainian capital, more than four years into the war.
Jared Kushner and fellow special envoy Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Moscow on September 5 and then to Kyiv on September 6, marking the most significant escalation of US diplomatic engagement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict in months. The back-to-back visits aim to restart negotiations between the two warring nations, with the Kyiv stop carrying particular weight: it would be the first time either envoy has set foot in the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the planned meetings on September 3, underscoring how seriously both sides are treating this round of shuttle diplomacy. The Kremlin has not confirmed the trip’s itinerary.
A long road to Kyiv
Kushner and Witkoff have made multiple trips to Moscow since being tapped by President Donald Trump to pursue a peace deal. Their most recent visit to the Russian capital came in January 2026, where they spent roughly four hours in talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Security concerns related to ongoing Russian military operations in and around Ukraine could still affect the Kyiv visit, which reportedly remains under discussion.
Macro, rates, and crypto—what moved markets and what matters next.
Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy.
Four and a half years of war
The Russia-Ukraine war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has now ground on for approximately four and a half years. Russia has insisted on recognition of its territorial gains and a commitment that Ukraine will not join NATO. Ukraine has demanded full withdrawal from its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war quickly, a promise that dates back to his 2024 presidential campaign.
Why the timing matters
Adding Ukraine to the itinerary addresses one of the loudest criticisms of the administration’s peace efforts: that they have been conducted largely over Kyiv’s head. Zelensky’s public confirmation of the meetings suggests he views the visit as a meaningful development. Russia has also expressed reservations about specific elements of the proposed itinerary, particularly concerning security risks associated with a visit to Kyiv.