US envoys Witkoff and Kushner shuttle between Moscow and Kyiv as EU backs peace push

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday, 5 September, before crossing into Ukraine the following day for the first time to discuss reviving stalled peace negotiations, according to reports from both capitals.

The back-to-back visits mark the most direct American diplomatic engagement with Moscow and Kyiv in months. Witkoff, a real estate developer turned Middle East envoy, and Kushner, a former White House senior adviser, are acting as informal representatives of the Trump administration, which has sought to broker an end to the war since returning to office in January 2025.

Al Jazeera reported that the Saturday meeting at the Kremlin was aimed at “trying to revive stalled negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.” No details of the discussions have been released, but the fact that Putin received the envoys in person signals that Moscow is willing to engage at a high level.

By Sunday, 6 September, Witkoff and Kushner had arrived in Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing unnamed sources. It is their first known visit to the country since taking on the peace brief. The report did not specify whom they met or whether they had travelled to Kyiv or another location.

The European Union, which has been a key backer of Ukraine and a co-architect of sanctions against Russia, said on Friday, 4 September, that it is “in constant contact with the US on peace efforts regarding Ukraine,” according to Ukrainska Pravda. The statement came a day before the Moscow meeting and suggests that Washington kept Brussels informed of its plans, though the EU has not publicly endorsed the shuttle diplomacy.

The timing of the EU’s remark is significant: it indicates that the bloc is trying to stay aligned with the US even as the Trump administration pursues a more direct, bilateral track with Russia. European officials have repeatedly stressed that any peace framework must involve Ukraine and respect its sovereignty.

Why this matters strategically

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been frozen since early 2024, when both sides hardened their positions. Moscow insists on recognition of its annexed territories and a neutral status for Ukraine; Kyiv demands a full withdrawal of Russian forces and security guarantees from the West. The arrival of US envoys in both capitals within 48 hours suggests that Washington is trying to break the deadlock by offering a face-to-face channel.

Kushner, who played a role in the Abraham Accords during Trump’s first term, brings experience in brokering deals with reluctant parties. Witkoff, though less known in diplomatic circles, has been a trusted Trump emissary in the Middle East. Their joint mission signals that the White House is willing to deploy senior figures outside the State Department to move the needle.

No breakthrough has been announced, and the envoys’ itinerary suggests that the US is still testing the ground. The Kremlin has not publicly commented on the substance of Saturday’s talks, and Ukrainian officials have not confirmed any change in their negotiating stance.

What remains unclear is whether the EU’s “constant contact” will translate into a coordinated strategy or whether the US is effectively bypassing European institutions. The EU has its own peace initiative, but it has gained little traction. For now, the shuttle diplomacy puts Washington at the centre of a process that has been stuck for over a year.

Sources:

• Al Jazeera: US envoys Witkoff, Kushner meet Putin for talks on Ukraine war
• Ukrainska Pravda: EU says it is in constant contact with US on peace efforts regarding Ukraine
• Ukrainska Pravda: Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Ukraine for first time to discuss peace