US seeks security guarantees for Witkoff and Kushner before trip to Moscow and Kyiv
The administration of US President Donald Trump is seeking security guarantees from Russia and Ukraine for American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner before their trip to Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has already said it will not carry out airstrikes during the Americans' visit and called on Russia to do the same.
Witkoff and Kushner are to visit Moscow and then travel to Kyiv as part of Washington's new attempt to resume negotiations on ending the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump's representatives will arrive in the Ukrainian capital on Sunday, September 6.
However, the final implementation of the route depended in part on security issues. A source familiar with the trip preparations said the American side tried to obtain commitments from both warring parties that would allow the negotiators to safely stay first in Moscow and then in Kyiv.
Ukraine promised not to strike during the visit
On the evening of September 4, Zelenskyy confirmed the preparations for the visit and said Kyiv is ready to ensure the safe flight of American representatives during their stay in Russia.
According to the president, Ukraine will not conduct airstrikes during the period needed for Witkoff and Kushner to travel to Moscow and hold talks. Zelenskyy demanded that the Russian side reciprocally stop aerial attacks during the American delegation's visit.
“There will be no airstrikes from our side, and Russia should reciprocally ensure silence,” Zelenskyy said.
The president stressed that such a regime is needed precisely for the safety of American negotiators and for resolving logistical issues related to their trip.
Visit to Kyiv previously under question
Earlier, reports emerged that Witkoff and Kushner were considering changing the original route due to security concerns in Kyiv. According to sources, the Russian side convinced the Americans that a trip to the Ukrainian capital could be dangerous.
Against this backdrop, the American administration tried to obtain guarantees in advance that Russia and Ukraine would not carry out strikes that could threaten the negotiators' safety during the visits.
Later, Zelenskyy effectively confirmed that security arrangements are part of the trip preparations and announced Ukraine's readiness to temporarily suspend airstrikes.
Witkoff and Kushner to meet Russian side first
According to Axios, the American negotiators are to first travel to Moscow and hold talks with Vladimir Putin, then come to Kyiv for a meeting with Zelenskyy. This would be Witkoff and Kushner's first visit to the Ukrainian capital since Trump's return to the White House.
Witkoff and Kushner have already met with Russian leadership in Moscow multiple times. Their last trip to the Russian capital was in January, when they held talks with Putin. The negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation stalled in February amid the outbreak of war with Iran.
The new diplomatic trip comes amid a sharp escalation of aerial attacks. On September 4, a Russian drone struck the central SBU building in Kyiv, and according to Zelenskyy, the target was directly the office of acting SBU head Oleksandr Poklad.
Based on materials from: The New York Times, Office of the President of Ukraine
