Trump’s peace push under fire? Russia hits Ukraine airports as US envoys arrive for peace talks

Russia and Ukraine have intensified their aerial attacks just as US President Donald Trump's envoys arrived in Moscow for a new attempt to revive stalled peace efforts, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy linking overnight strikes on airports near Kyiv to preparations for the American delegation's expected visit.

What happened?
US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday as Washington renewed efforts to find a way towards ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

Their visit came hours after Russian strikes hit airports in Kyiv and nearby Boryspil, according to Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president said the attacks appeared connected to preparations for the possibility of the US envoys travelling to Ukraine by aircraft.

"Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine has kept its airspace closed to civilian flights since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Foreign officials visiting Kyiv have generally travelled by train.

Zelenskyy had said American negotiators could potentially travel by plane for their expected visit to the Ukrainian capital.

Trump sends Witkoff and Kushner to revive peace talks

Trump announced on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were travelling abroad with a proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

The two envoys arrived in Moscow on Saturday and were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before travelling to Kyiv, according to reports cited by AFP and AP.

Trump said the pair would assess whether progress towards a peace agreement was possible.

"I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They've done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done," Trump said.

He added that they were carrying a proposal to end the war.

Trump did not provide details of whether the proposal would require Ukraine to give up territory, but said the United States had "an idea for peace".

Why the airport strikes matter

The timing of the strikes has added another layer of tension to an already difficult diplomatic effort.

Zelenskyy directly connected the attacks on Kyiv and Boryspil airports to preparations for the US delegation's possible air travel to Ukraine.

He also said Ukraine would not threaten the diplomatic process during the envoys' visit.

The strikes came as Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange long-range missile and drone attacks, despite renewed diplomatic activity.

Just hours before Trump announced the envoys' trip, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service, or SBU, in central Kyiv, according to Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian president said the strike was aimed at the office of the agency's acting chief and marked the first reported attack on the SBU headquarters since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

Zelenskyy proposes temporary ceasefire

With the American delegation travelling between Moscow and Kyiv, Zelenskyy proposed that both sides halt air attacks for the duration of the visit.

He said Ukraine would stop carrying out airstrikes during the envoys' trip and called on Russia to reciprocate.

"There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire -- without its own airstrikes -- for the duration needed to conduct these talks," Zelenskyy said.

Russia had not publicly responded to the proposal at the time of the reports.

Fresh Russian strikes cause civilian casualties

The diplomatic push unfolded alongside continued attacks across Ukraine.

Russian strikes killed five people and wounded five others at an industrial facility in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local Ukrainian officials. The victims were described as workers at the site.

A separate attack in the Nikopol district wounded a 62-year-old man and damaged residential buildings.

Ukrainian officials also reported damage and injuries in the Kyiv region and Mykolaiv region following overnight drone attacks.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia had launched ballistic missiles and 167 attack drones overnight. Ukrainian air defences reportedly shot down or suppressed 128 of the drones.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had struck two metallurgical plants in the Dnipropetrovsk region, describing them as suppliers to Ukraine's military production.

Ukrainian attacks also reportedly wounded three people, including a 14-year-old girl, in Russia's Belgorod region.

Why the peace push has stalled

The latest US initiative comes after previous diplomatic efforts failed to produce a lasting settlement.

Washington's attention has also been heavily focused on its conflict with Iran, while Russia and Ukraine have continued escalating long-range attacks.

The military situation remains difficult for Ukraine, with fighting continuing along a front line stretching roughly 1,250 kilometres.

Russia has intensified attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has continued using long-range drones and missiles against Russian military facilities, energy infrastructure and other targets.

Who are Witkoff and Kushner?

Witkoff and Kushner have previously been involved in Trump's diplomatic efforts over conflicts in Gaza and Iran.

Witkoff has made several visits to Moscow as part of earlier attempts to engage Russia over the war.

Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, has also taken part in the administration's diplomatic initiatives.

The latest mission is notable because the pair are expected to travel to Kyiv after their Moscow meetings. According to the reports provided, neither envoy had previously visited Kyiv during this diplomatic effort.

Diplomacy and escalation at the same time

The latest developments underline the central challenge facing the US peace initiative: diplomacy is being attempted while military operations continue at high intensity.

The arrival of American negotiators in Moscow creates a direct channel for discussions with the Kremlin, followed by expected talks with the Ukrainian leadership in Kyiv. However, the continued strikes demonstrate how far the two sides remain from an agreed ceasefire.

The airport attacks are particularly significant because Zelenskyy has linked them to preparations for the US delegation's possible air travel. That interpretation remains the Ukrainian president's assessment; Russia had not publicly confirmed that the airport strikes were intended to disrupt the American visit.

For Washington, the immediate objective appears to be determining whether a negotiated settlement is possible after months of stalled diplomacy. For Kyiv and Moscow, major unresolved questions include territory, security guarantees, the terms of any ceasefire and the future structure of relations between Russia and Ukraine.

The latest mission therefore represents another attempt to convert diplomatic contact into a workable peace process, but the simultaneous escalation in aerial attacks highlights the difficulties ahead.