US envoys bring “more effective proposals” to Ukraine, official says

Ukraine says the latest US proposals for ending the war with Russia are more effective than earlier efforts, but the talks have yet to produce a breakthrough.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Kyiv after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Their visit was the first to the Ukrainian capital, which has endured deadly Russian strikes for more than four years. Ukraine's rail operator later posted a photograph of the two envoys beneath a station sign reading “Peace Express” as they departed.

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It's not the same as it was before. This one now is more effective. They're still talking. This is actually the most important part.

A senior Ukrainian presidential official said the current proposals marked a change. “It's not the same as it was before. This one now is more effective. They're still talking. This is actually the most important part,” the official said.

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We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had offered an upbeat assessment of the discussions, while also warning that the war appeared likely to continue into winter. “We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would hold talks with the United States, France and Germany, without providing details. He again argued that territorial issues could be resolved only through a meeting between the two leaders. In a message thanking the envoys, he wrote, “The main thing is to achieve peace for Ukraine, a dignified, reliable, and lasting peace. We are directing all our efforts toward this.”

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The main thing is to achieve peace for Ukraine, a dignified, reliable, and lasting peace. We are directing all our efforts toward this.

Russia occupies large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine and has said it wants both the territories it controls and the land it claims as Russian recognized as its own. Ukraine rejects those terms. Witkoff said both sides would need to compromise. “We think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” he said, describing the talks as “very meaningful, substantive, important” and saying the US side was encouraged to continue for as long as necessary. Kushner said the trip had produced new ways to move forward and that he had learned a great deal.

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We think we have the ingredients to get to that place.