Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-04 · by Evan Semones
US President Donald Trump announced that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Kyiv and Moscow this weekend in an attempt to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The trip comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the duo would visit Ukraine on Sunday, marking their first visit since January. Trump attributed the stalled peace process to a "personality problem" between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy, saying they "truly hate each other". The war in Ukraine has reportedly cost Russia an estimated 450,000 lives and Ukraine around 125,000-150,000 fatalities.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US President Donald Trump has announced that his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend to attempt to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The envoys are bringing a proposal to end the war, which is now in its fifth year, but details of the plan have not been revealed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that he will meet with Witkoff and Kushner on Sunday after they visit Moscow on Saturday.
Trump told reporters that Witkoff and Kushner are "two great negotiators" who have done a good job, and that there is a chance for peace talks to be successful. However, the itinerary has been in flux, and it was previously reported that Witkoff had concerns about traveling to Kyiv due to Russian warnings.
Meanwhile, Trump also stated that the US will ask European nations to pay back the cost of military aid sent to Ukraine, which he claims is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. This move appears to be a shift in policy, as previous administrations have provided this aid free of charge.
Written for “US Effort to End Ukraine War” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 3995 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
United States President Donald Trump said that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are travelling this weekend in an attempt to revive peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
asserted
envoys → say → Ukraine
On Friday, while speaking at the White House, Trump said Witkoff and his son-in-law Kushner, who are preparing to travel to Kyiv and Moscow this weekend, are bringing a proposal to “end the war”.
asserted
who → speak → war
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“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner … to see whether or not we can get something done,” Trump said.
asserted
Trump → injure → Witkoff
“We have an idea for peace,” Trump added without mentioning any specifics about his administration’s plan.
asserted
Trump → have → plan
According to Russian state news agency TASS, Witkoff and Kushner will be in Moscow on Saturday and Sunday, their first visit since January.
uncertain
Witkoff → accord → January
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said the duo would be in Ukraine on Sunday, marking their first visit to the country since Trump returned to power.
asserted
Trump → say → power
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said negotiations were “frozen”.
asserted
negotiations → say → ?
But this weekend’s expected talks come as both sides continue to ramp up air attacks, with Russia hitting the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security services on Friday.
asserted
Russia → expect → Friday
At least 12 people were injured in the strike, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
asserted
Klitschko → injure → strike
Al Jazeera’s Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, said that while people weren’t shocked the SBU building was hit, it has made them wonder what target might be next.
uncertain
target → report → Kyiv
“It’s not so much that people never expected the SBU to be hit, but it really raises the question of if Russia can hit this, what else can it hit?” she said.
asserted
she → ’ → what
“Some people here are wondering whether this attack, for example, could be aimed at possibly dissuading” the US envoys’ trips to Ukraine.
uncertain
attack → wonder → Ukraine
Trump told reporters Friday that a peace deal in the more than four-year conflict has remained elusive due to what he described as a “personality problem” between both sides.
asserted
he → tell → sides
“President Zelenskyy and President Putin truly hate each other,” Trump said.
asserted
Trump → hate → other
“They have serious hate, and it’s getting in the way.”
asserted
it → have → way
While exact figures are unknown, a study released in July by the Center for Strategic and International Studies says the war has cost Russia some 450,000 lives.
asserted
war → release → lives
Ukraine is estimated to have endured between 125,000 and 150,000 fatalities.
asserted
Ukraine → estimate → fatalities
