Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, special envoys for US President Donald Trump, are planning visits to Moscow and Kyiv in the coming days to pursue a diplomatic solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kyiv stop would be their first trip to Ukraine, while they have previously visited Moscow. Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, citing unnamed sources, said the visits would take place on September 5 and 6. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the U.S. team had confirmed meetings in both capitals after he discussed dates with Witkoff and Kushner. Prospects for a rapid settlement remain limited, however, as President Vladimir Putin continues to demand that Ukraine cede large areas of territory, abandon its NATO aspiration and sharply reduce its military, conditions Kyiv rejects. The contacts come as Russian aerial attacks have kept Kyiv under near-continuous pressure for eight days since August 27, killing at least 53 people and injuring 134 across Kyiv city and the wider region. Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone strikes on Russian oil, refining and commercial facilities, while Zelensky said Ukraine would ensure safe skies for foreign diplomats traveling to Moscow. Washington is also managing U.S.-Iran tensions. Pakistan, Qatar and Oman remain involved in contacts with Tehran and the United States, while disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping has pushed Brent crude above $95 a barrel.