Exclusive: Trump envoys' first Kyiv trip thrown into doubt after Witkoff 'gets scared'

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were planning to visit Moscow and Kyiv on Sept. 5–6, but Witkoff "started to get scared," prompting discussions about alternative plans, a person familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

"The Russians don't want them to come here to Kyiv, and Witkoff is always sensitive to Russian sentiment," the person said. "They're being told there that it's dangerous."

The revelation comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 3 that Witkoff and Kushner had confirmed they could visit Ukraine. Kyiv has suffered a relentless barrage of Russian jet-powered drone strikes, facing eight straight days of attacks as of Sept. 3.

Russia launched another drone barrage against the capital on the morning of Sept. 4, damaging warehouses and sparking a fire, just days before the envoys' planned visit.

The U.S. had previously asked Ukraine not to strike Moscow during CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Russia on Aug. 25. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration would make a similar request while its envoys are in Kyiv.

The trip would mark the first visit to Ukraine by the two U.S. envoys, who have made multiple trips to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We are ready to meet with them in Ukraine," Zelensky said. "This is very important. It is important that the United States remains active."

Washington has not commented on Witkoff and Kushner's plans to visit Ukraine.

Witkoff and Kushner were expected to make their first visits to Ukraine earlier in August, but the trip was postponed, allegedly because U.S. President Donald Trump wanted to keep the diplomats close due to the unresolved standoff with Iran.