US diplomacy under fire as Russia escalates attacks on Ukrainian officials

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s latest visit to Moscow came under criticism as Russia intensified attacks around the talks. The article says the visit was followed by Russian strikes on Kyiv, raising doubts about the prospects for a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine and about Washington’s approach to diplomacy without close European involvement. The piece notes that the US administration under Donald Trump has cut military aid to Ukraine and pursued negotiations separately from allies.

According to Al Jazeera, the timing of the travel was notable: Ukrainian authorities briefly reduced drone and missile activity to help the envoys move safely between Kyiv and Moscow, and Russia also paused some attacks while they were in the Ukrainian capital. But after they left, Moscow launched drones and missiles at Kyiv, killing at least four civilians on September 8 and 9. The report also says Russia’s officials used the meetings to restate that Moscow would not shift from its war aims.

The article further describes what it presents as an escalation against Ukrainian officials. It says a drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s internal security service, the SBU, on September 4, and that Russia also came close to striking President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane in Chisinau on September 8. Zelenskyy has argued that stronger battlefield pressure is needed to push Russia toward meaningful negotiations.

Al Jazeera adds that Ukraine has continued long-range strikes on Russian energy and military infrastructure, while Russia faces rising budget pressure from war spending and lower oil and gas revenue.