Witkoff and Kushner are due to hold talks in Moscow on Saturday, September 5, before traveling to Kyiv on Sunday, September 6. It will be their first visit to Ukraine.
"We sent them to see if we can do something,” Trump told reporters at the White House. "And there’s a very good chance that we can."
Trump said the personal relationship between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the main obstacles to a peace agreement.
"The problem in Russia and Ukraine comes down to a personal conflict between President Zelensky and President Putin," Trump said. He claimed the two leaders "genuinely hate each other", describing their relationship as a major barrier to negotiations.
Trump also pointed to the heavy military casualties caused by the war, saying that an average of 25,000 soldiers were being lost each month.
"This has to be resolved," he said, explaining that he had sent Witkoff and Kushner to determine whether a deal could be reached.
Zelensky confirmed the planned visit by the US envoys in an evening address. He said Ukraine would suspend air strikes against Russia during their visit to ensure the safety of the American negotiators and called on Moscow to do the same.
Ukraine has also announced a temporary suspension of combat operations from September 5 to 8, according to Ukrainska Pravda. No formal ceasefire agreement with Russia has been announced.
Despite Kyiv’s announcement, Russia launched further waves of drone attacks overnight. Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv shortly after midnight as Ukrainian authorities warned that drones were approaching the capital.
(aj)
SOURCE: IAR, Ukrainska Pravda