Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner said they were encouraged by talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday as Washington sought to revive diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The visit was the first to Ukraine by the US delegation since Mr Trump returned to the White House with a pledge to bring the conflict to an end. It followed more than three hours of discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, although no breakthrough was announced.
Mr Witkoff described the Kyiv discussions as “very meaningful, substantive, important” and said both Russia and Ukraine would have to make compromises if an agreement was to be reached.
“We think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” he said. “It is very difficult, but we are committed, we care, and we hope all of that leads to a successful, peaceful diplomatic resolution.”
Mr Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, said Mr Trump was following the talks closely and wanted more than a temporary halt to the fighting. The aim, he said, was to establish “a framework that could actually build, lead to a durable peace”.
Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was seeking a “just, fair peace” which would prevent Russia from launching another attack. The final round of discussions in Kyiv included national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany.
Ukraine peace talks focus on winter support
The Ukrainian president said the talks covered long-term security guarantees, economic assistance and preparations for the winter. He also said air defence, including Patriot missile systems, and support for energy infrastructure were central to discussions with the American delegation and European partners.
Mr Zelenskyy said the war appeared likely to continue through the winter, despite what he called a positive assessment of the prospects for future negotiations. He said Kyiv was counting on continued support from Washington and European governments if the fighting did not stop.
The two sides also agreed to hold a further meeting involving Ukraine, the United States and European countries, although no location has yet been confirmed.
Saturday’s Moscow meeting with Mr Putin was described by his foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov as constructive, frank and useful. He said the discussions included possible economic projects between Russia and the US, as well as Moscow’s assessment of the battlefield, but offered no details of a peace plan.
Russia and Ukraine had agreed to suspend strikes on each other’s capitals while the envoys travelled between Moscow and Kyiv. However, officials said fighting continued overnight, with Russian attacks killing one person and injuring at least 10 others in Ukraine. Ukraine said it had intercepted dozens of drones and missiles launched by Russia.
Mr Witkoff said the United States was pursuing “a diplomatic resolution to this conflict, not a kinetic resolution”. Mr Kushner said the envoys hoped to restart direct talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US, which have been stalled for roughly six months.
