White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, arrived in Moscow for negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict. They will be received by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which was confirmed by his press secretary Dmitry Peskov. After the meeting, American negotiators will head to Kyiv for further dialogue with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump's representatives arrived in Moscow on September 5 at 12:52 local time, landing at Vnukovo Airport. As the Russian news agency TASS clarifies, Witkoff and Kushner for the first time during their visits to Russia used a Boeing C-32A state aviation aircraft intended for high-ranking US officials. Previously, they used business jets for such flights.
The negotiators were met by the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, special representative of the President of the Russian Federation Kirill Dmitriev. He greeted them on the rain-soaked runway and, in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter), called Witkoff and Kushner peacemakers with a capital P.
“Welcome to Moscow, Peacemakers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” Dmitriev wrote, accompanying the publication with the symbol of a dove of peace.
Welcome to Moscow, Peacemakers @SteveWitkoff and @jaredkushner! 🕊️ https://t.co/RAQt2CebVh pic.twitter.com/nrzs3mGnGw
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) September 5, 2026
Together with Dmitriev, the American delegation traveled in Aurus cars from the airport to the center of Moscow. Soon, Witkoff and Kushner visited the residence of the American ambassador, Spaso House, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Later, the American negotiators were spotted at a business lunch in one of the Moscow restaurants with Dmitriev.
Dmitriev, Witkoff and Kushner. Lunch at one of the capital's restaurants pic.twitter.com/jadvFkQAWI
— Kremlin pool RIA (@Kremlinpool_RIA) September 5, 2026
In anticipation of the arrival of Washington's emissaries, Putin gave instructions not to strike Kyiv for three days, starting on September 5, as the Russian President's press secretary Peskov told reporters. The Russian leader himself said on September 1 that the Kremlin is comfortable working with American negotiators on the Ukrainian track; he called Witkoff and Kushner “welcome guests” in Russia.
In turn, Zelensky noted on the eve of the Americans’ arrival in Moscow that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would not launch air strikes on Russian territory for the safety of US representatives. He then added that he expected mirror actions from Moscow. Kyiv also expected exactly what proposals the American negotiators would bring and what the Kremlin would tell them, Zelensky noted.
Peskov promised to report on the results of the meeting in the Kremlin upon its completion on September 5. Putin's press secretary noted that there is no talk of new ideas for a peaceful settlement, as Trump also stated.
The head of the White House emphasized a day earlier that he had sent “two excellent negotiators” to Moscow who would deliver a proposal to stop the conflict. However, according to the US President, it is not new. After meeting with Putin, American representatives will fly to Kyiv on September 6 to hold talks with Zelensky.
Trump announced Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to Ukraine at the end of July. They have never flown to the Ukrainian capital, and the last time they visited Moscow was in January 2026. In addition, the White House special envoy, separately from the son-in-law of the American president, made several trips to Russia during 2025.
