Trump's envoys delay Moscow trip pending clarity on new Ukraine peace plan

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, appointed by President Donald Trump as special envoys, have put off their planned trip to Moscow until it becomes evident whether Ukraine and its EU allies are ready to embrace a new peace proposal, the details of which remain undisclosed. Earlier reports indicated the envoys intended to present fresh ideas to Russian leadership before October ends, and Russian state news agency one outlet had expected the visit within two weeks.

After their September 5 trip to Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Kyiv, meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky. In parallel, the United States has offered to release billions of frozen Russian assets to encourage a partial cease-fire, while Russia is said to be asking for partial sanction lifts in return for an energy sector truce. President Trump announced on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to such a truce, though Russian authorities have not confirmed the deal as of the morning of October 12.