A planned diplomatic mission to Ukraine by Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner has been thrown into doubt due to safety concerns, according to Ukrainian sources. The two representatives were scheduled to travel to Moscow and Kyiv on September 5 and 6, 2026, for talks on the ongoing conflict.
A source familiar with the discussions told the Kyiv Independent that Witkoff had begun to fear for his safety following a visit to Moscow, prompting officials to evaluate alternative travel plans. The source stated that Russian officials did not want the representatives from Washington visiting Kyiv and had told Witkoff that the journey was dangerous, adding that Witkoff remains sensitive to Russian sentiment.
Ukraine confirmed that it was expecting the arrival of the American delegates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 3 that Witkoff and Kushner had confirmed their ability to visit Ukraine during the upcoming diplomatic tour.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian officials were fully prepared to receive the envoys in Kyiv. He noted that maintaining active involvement from the United States remains critical for Ukraine as it continues its defense against Russian military aggression.
Drone strikes target Ukrainian capital
The security concerns surrounding the visit come as Kyiv experiences relentless aerial bombardment from Russian forces. By September 3, the Ukrainian capital had endured eight consecutive days of attacks carried out by Russian strike drones.
On the morning of September 4, Russia launched a fresh wave of unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against Kyiv. The bombardment damaged several local warehouses and triggered multiple fires across the city, occurring just days before the scheduled arrival of the U.S. delegation.
Security precedents and diplomatic history
Diplomatic visits to the region have previously involved security requests to limit military actions. The United States previously asked Ukraine to refrain from conducting strikes against Moscow during a trip to Russia by Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe on August 25.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration planned to seek a similar non-strike pledge from Russia to safeguard the envoys while in the Ukrainian capital. Washington has not issued an official statement regarding the proposed travel plans for Witkoff and Kushner.
Previous delays and diplomatic ties
The planned journey would mark the first visit to Ukraine for both Witkoff, a U.S. real estate executive serving as a diplomatic envoy, and Kushner, a businessman and former senior White House advisor. The two delegates have previously made multiple trips to Moscow, where they held direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff and Kushner were originally scheduled to make their initial trip to Ukraine earlier in August, but that visit was postponed. Donald Trump reportedly decided to keep both diplomats nearby at the time because of an ongoing military and political confrontation with Iran.
