U.S. Special Envoys to Visit Russia and Ukraine This Weekend – TASS

Sep. 4, 2026 Jared Kushner, Steven Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev in Moscow in December 2025. kremlin.ru U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to visit Russia and Ukraine this weekend to revive negotiations aimed at ending the war, the state-run news agency TASS reported Friday, citing a source familiar with the matter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm or deny the report, telling journalists that officials would announce details “when these contacts take place.” The last round of U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in February, shortly before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran. Since then, the Kremlin has repeatedly signaled that Witkoff and Kushner could soon visit Moscow again. In June, Peskov said Witkoff and Kushner were “occupied with other matters right now” and vowed that talks would resume when “they become available.” The two Americans last visited Russia in January, when they held four hours of late-night talks with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Putin said this week that “we enjoy working with” Witkoff and Kushner, and added that they were “always welcome” in Moscow. A source told Reuters that a trip to Ukraine by the special envoys was still under discussion, with Sunday cited as a possible date. It would mark Witkoff’s and Kushner’s first visit to Kyiv since peace talks began under the Trump administration. “The Russians don’t want them to visit Kyiv and are trying to make them change the plan,” the source was quoted as saying. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys to hold meetings in Moscow and Kyiv “in the coming days.” “It is important that America remain actively engaged,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Thursday. Despite the latest efforts to reboot peace talks, which the Kremlin recently said were on a “deep pause,” a vast gulf remains between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have ramped up their attacks in recent weeks, causing extensive damage to commercial and industrial infrastructure. At the same time, Putin continues to demand that Ukraine give up more territory as a condition for peace, while Ukraine rejects terms that it considers tantamount to surrender. On Thursday, Putin said there was a “chance” of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Read more about: Ukraine war , United States Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more U.S. Will Abandon Ukraine Peace Talks ‘Within Days’ if No Progress Made, Rubio Says “The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it’s not our war,” Rubio said in France. 2 Min read Ukraine Peace Talks May Drag Into 2026, Russian Negotiator Warns “It would have been naive to expect any breakthroughs,” Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin said of discussions in Saudi Arabia earlier this week. 2 Min read Rubio Says It’s Too Early for Higher-Level Talks With Russia U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that ceasefire discussions needed to make “more progress on a technical level.” 1 Min read Rubio Says U.S. to Examine Russia's Conditions for Ending War, Peace to ‘Take Time' "It won't be simple. It'll take some time, but at least we're on that road and we're talking about these things," Rubio said. 1 Min read