Witkoff, Kushner Delay Planned Kyiv Visit Amid Intensified Russian Strikes

August 24, 2026 — US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner postponed their planned first visit to Kyiv, which had been expected to coincide with Ukraine's Aug 24 Independence Day, citing intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on the capital over the preceding week. The trip — meant to let the envoys hold direct talks with Ukraine's political and military leadership, assess air-defense needs, and discuss a possible air ceasefire proposal to put to Moscow — had never been formally confirmed by either side; a Ukrainian official had said as recently as Aug 22 that arrangements remained unfinished. President Zelensky said Kyiv's diplomatic team was 'preparing decisions' ahead of any rescheduled visit, while the Kremlin said it had no confirmed information on a new date. The delay leaves the prisoner-exchange channel as the only presently functioning US-Russia-Ukraine diplomatic track.