A special U.S. aircraft touched down at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Saturday, carrying special envoys of President Donald Trump, as reported by EFE citing flight tracking and Russian media sources.
Identified as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, these envoys are traveling with a peace proposal aimed at reigniting negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, based on reports from the TASS agency covered by various international media outlets.
Their schedule includes meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, followed by a trip to Kyiv on Sunday to engage with Ukrainian officials, according to sources mentioned by PBS and conflict-specialized media.
However, the Kremlin has yet to confirm their arrival. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that he had no information regarding the presence of Witkoff or any confirmed meeting plans, as reported by Newsweek.
The proposal carried by the envoys has been revised from an initial 28-point draft to a 19-point framework after consultations with Kyiv and European allies, who found the original version excessively favorable to Moscow, according to Reuters and The Wall Street Journal.
The previous plan included conditions rejected by Ukraine: relinquishing the Donbas, capping its armed forces at 600,000 troops, and forgoing NATO membership, as reported by the AP. Unresolved issues include territorial status—particularly in the Donbas and Crimea—and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Prior to the trip, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a conversation with Witkoff and Kushner, which the Ukrainian presidency described as "detailed and constructive."
Today, Ukraine and Russia agreed to a three-day ceasefire, suspending aerial attacks to facilitate negotiations.
This visit comes just ten days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, in a mission interpreted as one of quiet diplomacy and intelligence.
The Kremlin later described these intelligence contacts between the two countries as "positive."
This Saturday's journey marks the most structured attempt by Washington to date: it is the first instance where the envoys visit both capitals on consecutive days with a formal proposal in hand.
Key Details on the U.S. Envoys' Peace Mission
Who are the U.S. envoys visiting Moscow?
The envoys are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are carrying a peace proposal to reignite negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict.
What was revised in the peace proposal?
The proposal was revised from a 28-point draft to a 19-point framework after consultations with Kyiv and European allies, addressing concerns that the original was too favorable to Moscow.
What are the unresolved issues in the peace plan?
The unresolved issues include territorial status, particularly concerning the Donbas and Crimea, and security guarantees for Ukraine.
What recent diplomatic moves have occurred between the U.S. and Russia?
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise visit to Moscow on a U.S. Air Force aircraft for a mission of discreet diplomacy and intelligence, which the Kremlin later described as "positive."