US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made their first visit to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one day after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of a renewed effort to end the war in Ukraine.
Key facts
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for their first visit to the Ukrainian capital.
- The visit came a day after lengthy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
- Zelenskyy met the pair at Sophia Square, in front of Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral, greeting Witkoff with a hug.
- Witkoff described the discussions as 'substantive' and said the US team felt 'encouraged.'
- Zelenskyy said he wants trilateral meetings involving Ukraine, the US and Europe to take place.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for their first visit to the Ukrainian capital, holding meetings with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of a renewed push to end Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to NPR.
The Kyiv talks came a day after the two negotiators held lengthy conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The Guardian reported that the arrival marked the pair’s first visit to Ukraine and followed what were described as ‘substantive plans’ on ending the war discussed in Moscow.
Zelenskyy met Witkoff and Kushner in Sophia Square, in front of Kyiv’s historic Saint Sophia Cathedral, according to the Guardian. The Ukrainian president greeted Witkoff with a hug, saying: ‘It’s good to see you, Steve.’
Speaking to reporters, Witkoff said the US team felt ‘encouraged’ by a ‘substantive’ and important discussion, the BBC reported. NPR noted that both envoys characterized the Kyiv talks as ‘substantive’ following the Moscow meeting.
The Guardian reported that Witkoff said he hoped trilateral talks involving the US, Ukraine and Europe would be announced ‘in short order.’ Zelenskyy announced plans to widen peace discussions to include European countries in the near future, saying he wanted to do ‘everything to ensure that trilateral meetings take place’ with Ukraine, the US and Europe.
The visit represents part of a renewed diplomatic effort to bring an end to the war, with both the Moscow and Kyiv legs of the trip taking place over consecutive days.
Why it matters
The back-to-back meetings with both Putin and Zelenskyy signal an active US diplomatic push to end a war that has continued since Russia's full-scale invasion. Proposals to widen talks to include European countries could shape the format of any future negotiations toward peace.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the US envoys visiting Kyiv?
The envoys are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who made their first visit to the Ukrainian capital on Sunday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
What did the envoys do before arriving in Kyiv?
The pair held lengthy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the day before, where 'substantive plans' on ending the war were discussed, according to the Guardian.
What did Zelenskyy propose for future talks?
Zelenskyy said he wants to widen peace discussions to include European countries and to ensure that trilateral meetings take place involving Ukraine, the US and Europe, according to the Guardian.