Witkoff and Kushner will travel to ‘end’ Russia’s war in Ukraine: Trump

According to United States President Donald Trump, US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are travelling this weekend in an attempt to revive peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Key points

• While exact figures are unknown, a study published in July by the Center for Strategic and International Studies states the war has cost Russia some 450, 000 lives.
• According to Russian state news agency TASS, Witkoff and Kushner will be in Moscow on Saturday and Sunday, their first visit since January.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy additionally stated the duo would be in Ukraine on Sunday, marking their first visit to the country since Trump returned to power.
• On Friday, while speaking at the White House, Trump remarked Witkoff and his son-in-law Kushner.
• At least 12 individuals were injured in the strike, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated.

On Friday, while speaking at the White House, Trump remarked Witkoff and his son-in-law Kushner. This person are preparing to travel to Kyiv and Moscow this weekend, are bringing a proposal to "end the war".

"I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. To see whether or not we can get something done, " Trump remarked. "And there may be a good chance that we'll do it."

"We have an idea for peace, " Trump continued without mentioning any specifics concerning his administration's plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lately stated negotiations were "frozen". But this weekend's projected negotiations come as both sides continue to ramp up air attacks, with Russia hitting the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security services on Friday.

Al Jazeera's Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, remarked that while residents weren't shocked the SBU building was hit, it has created them wonder what target might be next.

"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 remarked. "Some people here are wondering whether this attack, for example, could be aimed at possibly dissuading" the US envoys' trips to Ukraine.

Trump remarked to journalists Friday that a peace agreement in the more than four-year conflict has remained elusive due to what he described as a "personality problem" between both sides.

"President Zelenskyy and President Putin truly hate each other, " Trump remarked. "They have serious hate, and it's getting in the way."

While exact figures are unknown, a study published in July by the Center for Strategic and International Studies states the war has cost Russia some 450, 000 lives. Ukraine is estimated to have endured between 125, 000 and 150, 000 fatalities.

In short, witkoff and Kushner will travel to 'end' Russia's war in Ukraine: Trump is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.