Witkoff and Kushner to visit Ukraine after Moscow trip, Zelensky pledges airspace security

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Ukraine on Sunday after completing their visit to Moscow.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine will secure the airspace during the U.S. representatives’ journey to Moscow. He also called on Russia to halt airstrikes against Ukraine while Witkoff and Kushner are engaged in negotiations.

In a social media post, the Ukrainian president recalled that during previous U.S. diplomatic missions, Ukraine had ensured the unhindered operation of Russian airspace so that the negotiators could arrive safely. He stressed that Ukraine, not Russia, was ensuring their safety, adding that the Ukrainian side would not carry out airstrikes and that Moscow should act in the same manner.

Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv’s aim is to make the visit and discussions with the U.S. side as substantive and constructive as possible. According to him, the parties should focus on finding realistic solutions that could bring the war to an end.

The Ukrainian president added that it remains to be seen what proposals Steve and Jared will put forward, as well as what response they will receive in Moscow.