Moscow: US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday for talks aimed at reviving efforts to end the war in Ukraine, as Washington makes a new attempt to restart stalled diplomacy.
The two US officials were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev after arriving in Moscow. Dmitriev has played a role in previous contacts between Russia and the United States over the war.
Their visit comes after US President Donald Trump said the envoys were carrying a proposal to end the war. Trump has not publicly disclosed the details of the proposal.
Trump said the United States had an idea for peace, but did not say whether the plan includes provisions on territory.
The US delegation is due to travel to Kyiv on Sunday, September 6, for talks with Ukrainian officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The visit would be Witkoff and Kushner's first trip to the Ukrainian capital.
The two officials have previously travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.
The renewed diplomatic effort comes as Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided over the terms of a possible settlement.
Russia has continued to demand that Ukraine give up control of four regions that Moscow claims as its own. Moscow has also opposed Ukraine joining NATO.
There has been no confirmation that Russia has accepted the new US proposal or that Ukraine has agreed to any of its terms.
Putin recently said there was a chance of reaching an agreement and expressed support for efforts to help settle the conflict. At the same time, Russian officials have continued to maintain that Moscow's main demands have not changed.
The diplomatic mission is taking place as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange attacks.
On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service, known as the SBU, in central Kyiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 12 people were injured in attacks in the capital, including seven medical personnel.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine will not carry out airstrikes during the period needed for the US envoys' visit and has called on Russia to take similar steps.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 72 hour pause in strikes targeting Kyiv, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The pause is linked to the diplomatic mission involving the US envoys.
The temporary pause should not be confused with a wider ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Attacks have continued in other areas.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have continued to carry out long range attacks against targets deep inside each other's territory.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian military and economic infrastructure, including energy facilities. Russia has continued missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and other targets.
The renewed diplomatic effort follows months of limited progress in negotiations. Earlier US backed discussions lost momentum as attention shifted towards the war involving Iran.
Witkoff and Kushner are now undertaking their mission as the war continues to place pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv.
The two sides remain far apart on several important issues, particularly territory and Ukraine's future security arrangements.
For now, the US mission represents a renewed attempt to bring Russia and Ukraine closer to negotiations. Its success will depend on whether Washington can narrow the differences between Moscow and Kyiv and whether either side is prepared to change its position.
The contents of Trump's proposal and the responses from Moscow and Kyiv remain unclear as the US envoys continue their meetings in Moscow and prepare to travel to Kyiv.