Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported today that Russia carried out strikes on airports in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, as well as in the neighboring city of Boryspil.
Read: Zelensky: “Russian drone strikes SBU headquarters in Kyiv – order given to respond”
It is worth noting that Ukrainian airspace has been closed since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. However, Zelensky stated that officials had been discussing the possibility of American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner using an aircraft for their expected visit to Kyiv the following day.
Russia strikes Kyiv airports ahead of Witkoff-Kushner visit
As the Ukrainian president stated via Telegram: “Clearly, these Russian strikes on airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations regarding the possibility of the American side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv’s airport or at the Boryspil city airport.” He added: “Russian Iranian-made Shahed drones, as a reaction to American diplomacy.”
Last night, the Russians struck a civilian enterprise in Kamianske, in the Dnipro region, killing four people and injuring five others. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Ordinary residential buildings were damaged in many regions – in Kherson, Boryspil, and the… pic.twitter.com/e9W8OvFA2Q
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 5, 2026
The Kushner-Witkoff visit
Donald Trump’s special envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are expected to visit Moscow this weekend, followed by Kyiv, carrying what the US president described as a proposal to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump said: “We sent them to see if we can do something to move things forward, and there may be a good chance we can pull it off.”
According to Axios, Witkoff and Kushner will first travel to Moscow for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, before heading to Kyiv on Sunday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump did not clarify whether the proposal his envoys are carrying includes territorial concessions on Ukraine’s part, as he had previously implied. However, he said: “We have an idea for peace.”
This marks the first time Kushner and Witkoff will travel to Kyiv, a city that has suffered extensive destruction from the war. The two American envoys have previously visited Moscow, with their last visit taking place in January.
Trump attributed the war — which began with Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 — to a “personality problem” between Zelensky and Putin.
Zelensky’s proposal
Volodymyr Zelensky proposed that a ceasefire with Russia be observed for the duration of the American envoys’ visit. In a Friday evening (September 4) address, he said: “There will be no air strikes on our part, and Russia must, in return, ensure a ceasefire — refraining from launching air strikes — for the entire duration of these talks.”
So far, Moscow has neither confirmed the visit nor responded to Zelensky’s proposal. A Russian attack carried out this morning on the city of Kamianske, in central-eastern Ukraine, killed at least four people and wounded five others, according to regional authorities.
The Ratcliffe visit
Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the unusual visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow last week. According to the Kremlin, the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency held meetings with Russian intelligence services. The US president described the visit as “semi-routine.”
Trump has initiated several rounds of negotiations aimed at finding a way out of the conflict since returning to the White House in early 2025. So far, no tangible progress has been made.
