US urges Ukraine to halt strikes on Russia's energy sector as Trump's envoys arrive, NYT says
Photo: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (Getty Images)
Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are traveling to Russia and Ukraine. The US administration wants to ensure their safety, according to The New York Times.
US asks Ukraine to refrain from attacks
According to officials familiar with the diplomatic efforts, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow and Kyiv on September 5-6. They will try to revive talks on a peace agreement that would end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Discussions over the trip have been underway for several weeks. The United States is insisting that Ukraine temporarily halt drone attacks on Moscow and energy facilities in Russia while the two envoys are in the country.
The US also wants Russia to similarly halt missile attacks on Kyiv during that time, the outlet reports.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity while discussing a trip that has not yet been officially announced.
It is unclear, the outlet writes, whether the Americans are presenting the countries’ leaders with new proposals or pushing them to resolve the remaining issues. The main one is who will control Donbas.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would visit Kyiv on September 6. During that time, Russia must halt its attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
It was also reported that Zelenskyy said back in May that he was expecting a visit from Witkoff and Kushner, but the US officials didn't come to Kyiv.
In addition, it became known that Witkoff and Kushner could visit the Ukrainian capital on Ukraine’s Independence Day, but this did not happen. According to media reports, Russian strikes were the reason for the postponement.
