In their inaugural official trip to Ukraine, U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner engaged in “positive” discussions in Kyiv on Sunday, aiming to help resolve over 4½ years of Russia’s extensive invasion. This visit by the American delegates comes after a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where both sides have intensified their air assaults. Efforts by Washington to end the conflict have faced setbacks, with the Trump administration primarily focused on the Iran conflict in the past six months.
Russia has been deploying swift jet-powered drones, leading to a daily soundscape of air-raid sirens in Kyiv. Progress along the 1,250-kilometer front line has proven challenging for troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after two rounds of talks with the U.S. officials, emphasized the objective of achieving a “just, equitable peace” to prevent any future aggression against Ukraine. He expressed gratitude to the American negotiators, who traveled by train for their first visit to Ukraine. Zelenskyy announced that the next round of discussions would involve national security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany.
Witkoff described the discussions as significant, substantial, and promising, stating, “We’ve had very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we’re very encouraged.” Kushner highlighted President Donald Trump’s view that it is crucial to not only end the ongoing war but also establish conditions for enduring peace. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on anonymity, indicated that much of the dialogue focused on strategies to navigate through the winter and actions that could be taken beforehand.
The meeting in Moscow on Saturday, which lasted over three hours, concluded without major breakthroughs. While described as constructive, frank, and useful by Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, specific outcomes were not disclosed. Economic matters and potential collaborative projects between Russia and the U.S. were extensively discussed, alongside the assessment of the battlefield situation in Ukraine.
Although Putin and Zelenskyy had agreed to halt strikes on each other’s capitals during the talks, incidents of crossfire persisted. Russian attacks resulted in casualties and damages in various Ukrainian regions. In response, Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting a significant number of drones and missiles launched by Russia.
In Kyiv, a moment of silence was observed to honor Ukraine’s fallen soldiers, with hopes among some attendees, like Nataliia Lipei, for a positive outcome from the talks. However, not everyone shared the same optimism. Oleksandr Pastukhov expressed skepticism about the potential impact of the envoys’ visit, citing past failed ceasefire attempts. Pope Leo also voiced his prayers for peace in Ukraine and the success of the ongoing negotiations.