Trump announces new peace push

President Donald Trump said Friday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are travelling to Russia and Ukraine this weekend with a proposal to end the war, now in its fifth year. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the two were carrying "a plan to end the war," though he did not elaborate on the details.

"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. He added: "We have an idea for peace."

The president characterised the conflict as "a personality problem," saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin "truly hate each other." He also cited the human cost of the war, saying the two sides are "losing on average 25,000 soldiers a month. It's got to get settled."

Trump did not say whether the envoys would travel to Ukraine, Russia, or both, though he suggested the visit was part of a renewed diplomatic effort.

Zelenskyy announces itinerary, pledges no strikes

Zelenskyy said Friday that Witkoff and Kushner would visit Moscow first and then fly to Kyiv on Sunday. In a statement on X, he said Ukraine would ensure "the normal functioning of Russian airspace so that the negotiators can arrive safely," citing previous diplomatic visits by the American side. He added: "We are looking out for them, not for Russia."

Zelenskyy also proposed a temporary halt to airstrikes by both sides during the visit. "There will be no air strikes from our side, and Russia must do the same, ensuring there are no air strikes from its side for the time needed to hold these talks and handle the logistical matters related to this American visit," he said.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv wanted the talks to be "as constructive and substantive as possible" and to identify "real options" to move the war towards an end. "We will see what proposals Steve and Jared bring and what they are told in Moscow in response," he said.

Putin receives envoys in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin received Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow, welcoming them at the Kremlin. "The situation, of course, is not simple," Putin said. He also asked the envoys to convey his thanks and best wishes to Trump. Putin said "there are chances" a peace deal could be reached, as reported by the BBC, and stressed that "first of all, Moscow and Kyiv must agree between themselves."

According to reports, Russia and Ukraine agreed not to strike each other's capitals for three days, and the Kremlin said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Moscow. The reported pause does not cover the entire frontline. Zelenskyy confirmed he had spoken with the envoys before their expected arrival in Kyiv.

Context of the visit

The trip marks the envoys' first visit to Kyiv, though Witkoff has travelled to Moscow numerous times before. The visit comes amid intensifying attacks: Moscow has launched waves of jet-powered drones into Ukrainian cities, killing 53 people and injuring 134, while Kyiv has struck targets deep inside Russia, destroying energy facilities and warehouses. A Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU in Kyiv on Friday.

The diplomatic push follows a week after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made his first publicly known trip to Moscow to warn Russia against attacking NATO allies. A U.S. intelligence report had determined that Putin might order a small attack in the coming years to test the alliance, with likely targets being countries on the Baltic Sea.

Reuters sources said the duo planned to travel to Moscow over the weekend followed by a visit to Kyiv, though the itinerary has been in flux in recent days, and the Kyiv section of the journey was still not completely certain, one source said on Friday.