US envoy optimistic after meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the meeting had left Washington's delegation highly encouraged. The visit marked the envoys' first trip to Kyiv since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

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very excited

The meeting came a day after Kushner and Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelenskyy said the envoys' arrival was important and thanked US President Donald Trump for allowing them to travel to Kyiv despite the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy described the talks as "very substantive." The discussions covered security and economic guarantees for Ukraine, the supply of air-defense missiles and a package of winter assistance. He also expressed hope that trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States would resume soon.

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very substantive

Witkoff said the US delegation was "very excited" by what he called substantive and important discussions. Kushner said Trump was seeking more than an end to the conflict, aiming to create the right conditions and mechanisms for a lasting and sustainable peace.

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creating the right conditions and mechanisms for a lasting, sustainable peace

Ukrainian security officials, the country's lead negotiators and several national security advisers from European countries also took part. Zelenskyy said Europe would join some sessions with the US delegation, including a meeting with European national security advisers.

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The talks have begun