Kathmandu— U.S. President Donald Trump announced that special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Russia and Ukraine this weekend to restart peace negotiations, claiming they are bringing a proposal to 'end the war' amid continued military escalation, including a Russian drone strike on Ukraine's security headquarters that injured at least 12 people.

Envoys' Mission Details

President Trump revealed on Friday during a White House briefing that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, are preparing to visit Kyiv and Moscow this weekend to revive stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Trump stated they are carrying a proposal to "end the war," though he provided no specifics about the plan.

Russian state news agency TASS reported that Witkoff and Kushner will be in Moscow on Saturday and Sunday, marking their first visit to Russia since January. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the envoys will also visit Kyiv on Sunday, their first trip to Ukraine since Trump returned to power.

Military Escalation Amid Diplomacy

The planned diplomatic mission comes as Russia intensified military operations, striking Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) headquarters in Kyiv on Friday. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least 12 people were injured in the attack.

Al Jazeera correspondent Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, noted that while the SBU building being targeted was not unexpected, the strike has raised concerns about potential future targets. "It’s not so much that people never expected the SBU to be hit, but it really raises the question of if Russia can hit this, what else can it hit?" she said, suggesting the attack might aim to dissuade U.S. envoys from proceeding with their visit.

Trump's Assessment of Conflict

Trump attributed the lack of progress in peace talks to a so-called "personality problem" between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating they "truly hate each other" and that their animosity is "getting in the way."

The president also referenced a July study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which estimated Russia has suffered around 450,000 casualties in the war, while Ukraine has endured between 125,000 and 150,000 fatalities.

The envoys' trip coincides with Russia's recent military actions and Putin's declaration that negotiations are "frozen," raising questions about the feasibility of the proposed peace efforts.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.