Kyiv: US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian resident Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday as Washington intensified efforts to advance negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The visit marked the envoys’ first trip to Kyiv and followed three hours of talks with Russian resident Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday. The Moscow meeting did not produce an apparent breakthrough, but the envoys continued their diplomatic efforts in Kyiv with discussions focused on possible steps towards ending the conflict.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine had prepared proposals for the talks and was seeking security guarantees as part of any potential peace arrangement. Kyiv has continued to stress the need for assurances that would protect Ukraine from renewed Russian aggression.
The visit comes as Washington seeks to maintain engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv in an effort to narrow differences over a possible settlement. Ukraine and Russia have also paused strikes on Moscow and Kyiv, creating a limited opening for diplomatic engagement.
The latest talks highlight the difficult balance facing the US administration as it attempts to bring the two sides closer to an agreement while addressing Ukraine’s demands for security guarantees and Russia’s position on the terms of a settlement.
