Why Trump’s peace envoys traveled to Kyiv by train. Zelenskyy: “Our airports are operating”

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv by train after Russian attacks made it impossible for them to travel by air, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit marked the first official trip by the two U.S. envoys to the Ukrainian capital.

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Unfortunately, the Russians demonstrated through their attacks that Witkoff and Kushner cannot land or use an aircraft, although we prepared everything and our airports are operating.

Ukrainian officials welcomed the pair at a Kyiv railway station before taking them by motorcade to Sofia Square. Zelenskyy said authorities had prepared to receive the delegation at an airport, but the attacks had prevented that plan.

“Unfortunately, the Russians demonstrated through their attacks that Witkoff and Kushner cannot land or use an aircraft, although we prepared everything and our airports are operating,” Zelenskyy said before the envoys reached central Kyiv.

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We are ready for talks. Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive. We are interested in speeding up the end of the war. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. The peace after the war must be worthy. Our proposals are ready. It is important to work in a coordinated, concrete and realistic way.

Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said he had met with Ukraine’s negotiating team. “We are ready for talks. Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive. We are interested in speeding up the end of the war. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. The peace after the war must be worthy. Our proposals are ready. It is important to work in a coordinated, concrete and realistic way,” he said.

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substantial plans for the next steps

The White House said Witkoff and Kushner had earlier discussed “substantial plans for the next steps” with Russian officials. Before heading to Kyiv, they met Vladimir Putin in Moscow for about three hours behind closed doors at the Russian leader’s official residence. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the meeting “constructive” and “extremely frank,” saying it covered the conflict’s “root causes,” the Russian military’s reported progress on the front, economic issues and possible Russian-American projects. Kremlin footage showed the two envoys alongside Putin, who said the situation “is not so easy” but that such contacts were useful. He also thanked Donald Trump for efforts to help end the war.

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constructive