(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Plans for the first visit to Kyiv by United States President Donald Trump’s envoys have been thrown into uncertainty after one of the delegation members expressed apprehension about travelling to the Ukrainian capital.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been expected to travel to Moscow and Kyiv on 5th and 6th September. However, discussions are now ongoing regarding alternative arrangements following reported concerns from Witkoff.
The Kyiv Independent reported on 4th September, citing a source familiar with the matter, that Witkoff “started to get scared” about the proposed trip. The source indicated that Russian officials are opposed to the envoys visiting Kyiv.
“The Russians do not want them to come here, to Kyiv, and Witkoff is always sensitive to Russian sentiments,” the source said. “They are being told there that it is dangerous.”
A separate source cited by Reuters stated that discussions about the United States negotiators’ trip to Ukraine remain ongoing, with 6th September having been discussed as a possible date.
In July, it was reported that Witkoff, serving as US Special Envoy, and Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, had agreed to visit Kyiv for the first time as part of peace efforts to end the war.
Reports in late August indicated that the visit had been postponed, though not cancelled, amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv.
On 3rd September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a visit by the US representatives could take place in the coming days, noting they would travel to Moscow first.
The same day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced “new momentum” in peace efforts, describing a return to an active political and diplomatic phase. He added that achieving progress without American involvement was unrealistic.
On 4th September, Russian media reported that the negotiators would visit Russia on 5th September and Ukraine on 6th September. The White House has not officially commented on the reported plans.
Meanwhile, a bill to strengthen sanctions against Russia, which passed the US Senate by an overwhelming majority last month, has encountered resistance in the House of Representatives and may not receive a vote before the 3rd November midterm elections.
It was also reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is considering further ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, including potentially with tactical nuclear weapons.
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