Washington, Sep 2026 : US President Donald Trump has dispatched his son-in-law Jared Kushner and diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff to pursue a potential agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war, saying personal hostility between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become a major obstacle to peace efforts.
Trump confirmed the mission while speaking to reporters at the White House and was asked whether Kushner and Witkoff would carry fresh proposals during expected visits to Kyiv and Moscow.
“No, they're bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump said.
The President did not reveal details of the proposal or clarify whether Russia and Ukraine had agreed to negotiate on the basis of the US initiative. He later said Washington had “an idea for peace” and expressed confidence in the two envoys, describing them as experienced negotiators who could help determine whether a settlement was possible.
“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators; they've done a great job,” Trump said. “And we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done.”
“And there may be a good chance that we'll do it,” he added.
Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, served as a senior White House adviser during Trump’s first presidency. Witkoff has emerged as one of the President’s key diplomatic representatives and has been involved in efforts to engage with foreign leaders on major international issues.
Trump attributed some of the difficulties in ending the conflict to the strained relationship between Putin and Zelensky, arguing that their personal animosity had complicated attempts to reach a political settlement.
“There’s a personality problem in Russia/Ukraine. You have President Zelensky and President Putin; they truly hate each other,” Trump said.
“You know what hate is? They have serious hate, and it's getting in the way of them,” he added.
The President also pointed to the scale of battlefield casualties as a reason for pursuing an urgent diplomatic solution. Trump claimed that 32,000 people, most of them soldiers, had been killed over the previous four weeks and said monthly military losses were averaging around 25,000.
“It’s got to get settled,” Trump said, underscoring his call for an end to the prolonged conflict.
Trump also addressed concerns about the possibility of the Russia-Ukraine conflict spilling into NATO territory. Asked about Germany blaming Russia for an explosive drone discovered at a German airport and whether such an incident could constitute an attack against the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Trump rejected the suggestion that Putin was seeking a broader confrontation with the alliance.
“I don't think that Putin will be -- I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin's not looking to attack NATO territory,” Trump said.
Trump’s comments came as Washington continued efforts to push Moscow and Kyiv toward negotiations, with the proposed diplomatic mission by Kushner and Witkoff representing another attempt to find a pathway toward ending the fighting.
However, the absence of publicly disclosed terms means it remains unclear whether the proposal can bridge the significant differences between Russia and Ukraine. The planned outreach is expected to test whether direct engagement can revive diplomatic momentum after prolonged hostilities.
