The US is devoted to standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine: Kellogg goes to Kyiv, Witkoff to Moscow as part of peace efforts.

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston, commenting on the war in Ukraine, said that the United States seeks lasting peace in the region. According to her, Washington wants to continue to providing support with its ally, Kyiv, which is calling for a complete ceasefire. Houston added that a peaceful solution requires direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, as well as a ceasefire that will lead to a final agreement.

To that end, US President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy Steve Witkoff, at the request of the Russian Federation, may arrive in Moscow as soon as August 6 or 7 (a few days before Trump’s stated deadline) for further negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Trump warned that if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire by Friday, new restrictions will be imposed on the aggressor state.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker hopes that Witkoff’s visit to Moscow will lead to a breakthrough in peace negotiations. As well, another Trump special envoy, Keith Kellogg, will visit Ukraine in the coming days.