Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Security Concerns Cloud Planned U.S. Envoys’ Russia, Ukraine Visits
Two American peace envoys may travel to Russia and Ukraine to discuss the war.
Their trip was not yet certain because officials were worried about their safety.
The United States wanted Russia and Ukraine to avoid attacks on the cities during the visits.
Russia said it would probably ask Ukraine for a safety promise, but said there would be no direct Russia-Ukraine agreement about it.
Russia and Ukraine still strongly disagree about how to end the war.
Russia wants Ukraine to give up areas claimed by Moscow and drop its NATO plans.
Ukraine rejects those demands and says they would amount to surrender.
Recent missile and drone attacks made the planned travel more difficult.
Plans for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv remained unfinalized because of U.S. security concerns.
Washington was seeking commitments that Ukraine would not strike Moscow and Russia would not attack Kyiv during the visits.
Russian officials indicated the United States would likely seek assurances from Ukraine, but denied that Moscow and Kyiv would make direct agreements.
Russia and Ukraine remain far apart, with Moscow demanding territorial concessions and an end to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
The envoys last visited Moscow in January and have not yet visited Ukraine, while recent air attacks have intensified security concerns.
- Who
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with officials from Russia and Ukraine.
- What
- A possible weekend visit by the two envoys to Moscow and Kyiv was being reviewed because of security concerns.
- When
- The planned visits were reportedly set for Saturday in Moscow and Sunday in Kyiv; the Reuters report was dated September 4.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia, and Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Why
- The United States was seeking safety commitments during the envoys’ travel amid intensified Russian and Ukrainian air attacks.
Ukraine and Western Analysts
Russia and Kremlin Sources
Territorial settlement
Ukraine and Western Analysts
Ukraine refuses to surrender territory it has defended and rejects Russia’s demands as tantamount to surrender. Western military analysts view Russia’s expected progress in Donetsk as remote.
Russia and Kremlin Sources
Russia says its demand for Ukraine to cede the entire territory of four claimed regions is unshakeable. A source close to the Kremlin said Vladimir Putin remains intent on capturing the remaining part of Donetsk.
Travel security conditions
Ukraine and Western Analysts
The United States was seeking commitments to prevent attacks on Moscow and Kyiv during the envoys’ visits, reflecting concerns about recent air attacks.
Russia and Kremlin Sources
The Kremlin said Washington would likely demand a commitment from Ukraine, but said Russia and Ukraine would not make direct agreements on the issue.
- Planned visitors
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Reported itinerary
- Moscow on Saturday and Kyiv on Sunday
- Main security concern
- Washington wanted Ukraine not to strike Moscow and Russia not to attack Kyiv during the visits
- Russian position
- Russia says Ukraine should cede the entire territory of four regions claimed by Moscow and abandon its NATO membership goal
- Ukrainian position
- Ukraine rejects surrendering land it has defended and considers Russia’s terms tantamount to surrender
- Previous Moscow visit
- Witkoff and Kushner held four hours of late-night talks with Vladimir Putin in January
- Previous mediated talks
- The last U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks took place in February