Special envoy Steve Witkoff declared Sunday that the United States is optimistic about reaching a "good resolution" to the Ukraine conflict following trilateral discussions, after he and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, held talks with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.
This marked the first visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine's capital as part of the negotiation effort, coming a day after their meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Speaking at a press conference, Witkoff described the discussions as "substantive" and expressed confidence in a favorable outcome.
According to reports from The New York Times, Witkoff acknowledged that both Ukraine and Russia "need to make some compromises," but added, "we think we have the ingredients to get to that place." The envoy's remarks suggest a renewed push to break the stalemate in a war that is approaching its fifth year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his own press conference, emphasized that the "territorial issue remains a relevant one," and called for resolving "complex issues ... at the level of leaders." He stressed that discussions now cover not only security guarantees but also economic recovery and rebuilding, noting, "We are talking not only about security guarantees, but also about economic guarantees for Ukraine – to recover and rebuild."
Zelensky also urged European leaders to join the next phase of negotiations, stating that "Ukraine, Europe and the United States will meet in the near future." This tripartite approach could broaden the diplomatic framework beyond the current US-Russia-Ukraine dynamic.
The visit comes as the Trump administration seeks to revive stalled peace efforts, which had slowed following the US military engagement with Iran in February. Kushner explained their strategy: "One thing Steve and I really thought would be productive is to go back to the trilateral format, which we were able to do about six months ago."
White House officials, speaking to The Guardian, said the envoys had "discussed substantive plans for next steps" with Putin, and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that they "outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement." This aligns with broader concerns about Putin's unpredictability as allies brace for continued tensions.
Zelensky revealed that the talks also focused on air defense and a proposed "package" to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the winter. He added that the US plans to increase production of Patriot interceptor missiles next year, a response to the escalation of Russian strikes. This follows calls from lawmakers like Senator Blumenthal for more air defense for Ukraine.
Russia has intensified its use of fast-flying jet-powered drones, which Zelensky labeled as deliberate "terror" against civilians. He has also warned that Ukraine may retaliate with its own aerial attacks, raising the stakes for aviation in the region.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, a temporary pause in fighting during the envoys' visits was violated, with both sides exchanging fire and intercepting drones overnight Sunday. Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported one death and at least ten wounded in separate drone attacks, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire.
