As Ukraine prepares to mark 35 years of independence on 24 August, international allies are expected to gather in Kyiv in a display of solidarity. Whether two of US President Donald Trump's most senior envoys will join them remains an open question.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been central to Washington's efforts to broker an end to Russia's full-scale invasion, could make their first visit to Ukraine in the coming days. Reports have circulated for weeks that the two negotiators were preparing to travel to the Ukrainian capital as part of the US-led peace push.
The visit may coincide with Monday's Independence Day celebrations, although neither the White House nor the Ukrainian government has confirmed the plan. Trump said in late July that he would send Witkoff and Kushner to Kyiv within weeks. Subsequent reports suggested they could also travel to Moscow, with Kremlin-controlled media indicating a visit might happen around this time. Russia has not confirmed its side either.
The uncertainty hangs over a day that Kyiv intends to use to reaffirm its resilience and international backing. European Council President António Costa is expected in the capital, alongside other foreign dignitaries. The Coalition of the Willing is also set to meet in Kyiv on Monday, with several leaders attending in person, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden.
Europe's role in the peace process
Costa's presence could carry added weight if Witkoff and Kushner also appear. His visit comes amid a broader debate over who might represent European interests in any future negotiations with Russia. The EU has been seeking a seat at the table in a diplomatic process that has so far been largely driven by Washington.
Moscow, however, has insisted on keeping talks bilateral with the United States, rejecting a direct role for the EU while simultaneously escalating threats against Brussels and other European capitals. For now, there are no substantive negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
The Kremlin has dismissed all options put forward in the US-led peace process, including calls for a ceasefire. Instead, Russia continues to demand extensive territorial concessions from Ukraine and, ultimately, Kyiv's surrender. There is little sign of willingness to compromise or to engage in a broader settlement.
Prisoner-of-war exchanges have been the most tangible result of direct contacts between Ukraine and Russia. Witkoff and Kushner have played prominent roles in the Trump administration's attempts to broker an agreement, holding repeated meetings with Russian officials. Witkoff has travelled to Moscow eight times and met Vladimir Putin on several occasions. Neither he nor Kushner, however, has set foot in Ukraine since taking on their negotiating roles.
The possible visit comes as Ukraine also faces continued Russian attacks. Russian drones have struck a Ukraine-Moldova border crossing, according to Kyiv, and UN aid officials warn that drone strikes are crippling humanitarian work in the country. The symbolism of an Independence Day visit by the US envoys would be significant, but so far it remains a possibility rather than a certainty.
