US Envoys See Momentum for New Ukraine-Russia Talks After Kyiv Visit
US envoys visit Kyiv after Moscow talks, hint at fresh Ukraine-Russia negotiations amid temporary strike pauses.
US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff expressed optimism on Sunday after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, signalling possible momentum toward a new round of trilateral talks involving Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow.
The visit came a day after the envoys held three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While no breakthrough was announced, Witkoff said they had heard "new ideas" in the Russian capital and were "very encouraged" by conversations with the Ukrainian team. He told reporters they hoped a fresh round of US-mediated negotiations would be announced "in short order."
Zelenskiy described the meeting as "very substantive" and said Ukraine was ready for trilateral talks. Discussions also covered air defence supplies and energy support ahead of winter, with expectations that Russia may again target Ukraine's power grid.
Previous US-mediated efforts, pushed by President Donald Trump on his promise to quickly end the war, have yielded limited results. Trump hinted on Friday at a new proposal without providing details. A Kremlin aide called Saturday's Moscow meeting "highly useful," and a White House official said next steps would be announced in the coming weeks.
The Kyiv talks lasted several hours and included British, French, and German national security advisers for the final hour. Zelenskiy said officials discussed security and economic guarantees for Ukraine, as well as a post-war "prosperity plan." He added that Ukraine had grown stronger over the past year and that both the US and Europe had taken note.
On the streets of Kyiv, some residents voiced cautious hope. Military veteran Stepan Yermak said, "We want peace. I've fought myself, so I know what war is like. We need peace, because there's no other way."
Key differences remain, particularly over the eastern Donbas region. Russia has demanded Ukraine withdraw from towns it still controls there, but Kyiv has refused. Zelenskiy called Donbas "the question of this war."
Meanwhile, both sides have agreed to temporarily halt strikes on each other's capitals—Russia paused attacks on Kyiv until Monday, and Ukraine said it would stop strikes on Moscow. Fighting along the 1,200-km front continued, with Russia bombarding other Ukrainian cities on Saturday. Ukraine said it struck the Ryazan oil refinery inside Russia overnight, causing a fire.