While the President did not provide specific details regarding the contents of the proposal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that the delegation is expected to arrive in Ukraine on Sunday following a visit to Moscow. Reuters reported that while the trip has been in planning for some time, the itinerary remained fluid as of Friday, with some uncertainty surrounding the final schedule for the Kyiv leg of the journey.
This mission follows a recent visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe in late August, part of a broader U.S. effort to engage Russian counterparts on a possible settlement. However, previous attempts by the Trump administration to negotiate an end to the conflict have yielded limited results, and formal talks have largely stalled in recent months.
Diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of intensified hostilities. On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv, marking one of the most significant strikes on a high-profile target since the conflict began over five years ago. Despite the ongoing violence, Trump expressed optimism, telling reporters, “There may be a good chance that we’ll do it.”
Witkoff, who serves as the lead U.S. negotiator on the conflict, has made multiple trips to Moscow during his tenure but has yet to visit Ukraine. Western intelligence officials remain cautious, with many expressing skepticism regarding President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to agree to a short-term settlement, while Ukrainian intelligence services have warned of the possibility of further near-term escalation.