Witkoff and Kushner seek to bring Kyiv and Moscow closer, but major obstacles to peace remain

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday in Washington's latest attempt to unblock negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia. Their visit followed a meeting of more than three hours with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which ended without concrete announcements of progress.

Witkoff described the first round of talks with Zelenskyy and his team as "significant, substantive and important." He said the parties were "very encouraged" and ready to continue discussions "for as long as necessary." Both sides, he added, would have to make concessions and narrow the issues still on the table.

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significant, substantive and important

"It is a very difficult task, but we are committed, we care about the issue and hope this leads to a successful and peaceful diplomatic solution," Witkoff said. Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, said he hoped the trip had helped "clear new paths forward" and said the American envoys had learned a great deal in Moscow and Kyiv. He also said the United States was working on a "peace package."

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Both sides will have to make concessions and narrow the outstanding issues. We believe we have the elements necessary to achieve that.

After the initial meeting, which included a working lunch and lasted about three hours, the American and Ukrainian delegations began further talks with European security officials. National security advisers from Britain, France and Germany also traveled to Kyiv, signaling an effort by Ukraine's main European allies to accompany Zelenskyy in the discussions with Washington.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for a constructive conversation and that its proposals for an agreement were ready. "We are interested in ending the war. Peace is necessary. Security guarantees are necessary. It is essential that the postwar peace be dignified," he wrote on social media. Witkoff and Kushner's visit marked their first trip to Ukraine as U.S. negotiators during Trump's current term. The war began with Russia's invasion in February 2022 and continues without a negotiated settlement.

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We are interested in ending the war. Peace is necessary. Security guarantees are necessary. It is essential that the postwar peace be dignified.