US negotiators Wittkoff and Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend

American negotiators Steve Wittkoff and Jared Kushner, who lead peace mediation efforts regarding the conflict in Ukraine, are scheduled to visit Russia and Ukraine this weekend. According to reports from the Tass news agency and confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the delegation will travel to Moscow first, followed by a visit to Kyiv, tentatively planned for September 6. This marks a new phase in mediation efforts that have been ongoing since the last high-level talks held in February.

In preparation for the mission, President Zelensky stated that Ukraine will guarantee the safety of Russian airspace to facilitate the negotiators' travel. He publicly called on the Russian leadership to reciprocate by halting all aerial attacks during the period of these diplomatic meetings to ensure the safety of the delegation and allow for the resolution of logistical issues. These efforts aim to restore communication channels, building upon the previous visit by the duo to the Kremlin in January, during which they held late-night discussions with President Vladimir Putin.

As of now, the itinerary remains subject to ongoing final coordination between the involved parties. The visit is viewed as a critical step in facilitating dialogue, with both sides focusing on ensuring the secure passage of the negotiators throughout the duration of their trip.