President Donald Trump sent two of his trusted envoys, former senior adviser Jared Kushner and real‑estate investor Steve Witkoff, to Kyiv on Sunday for a second round of peace negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The delegation arrived a day after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where they spent more than three hours in closed‑door talks.
Kyiv Meeting Focused on Ending the War
Zelenskyy told supporters on X that his negotiating team had already prepared for the Americans’ arrival and that Kyiv was ready for substantive discussions. “Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive,” he wrote. “We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. A dignified character of the post‑war peace is needed.” He added that the Ukrainian side had ready proposals and emphasized the need for a coordinated, realistic approach.
What the Delegates Discussed in Moscow
In Moscow, Kushner and Witkoff met with President Putin and his foreign‑policy adviser Yuri Ushakov. While no official breakthroughs were announced, Ushakov described the meeting as “constructive, frank and useful.” He said the Russian side provided a “comprehensive assessment” of the battlefield and that the talks also covered economic issues and potential large, mutually beneficial joint projects for Russia and the United States.
A White House official later said the two sides discussed “substantive plans for next steps,” which are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The official added that the U.S. delegation looks forward to “equally productive meetings” in Ukraine.
Trump’s Rationale
President Trump explained his decision to send Kushner and Witkoff, calling them “two great negotiators.” “We have an idea for peace. I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators,” Trump told reporters. “They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it.”
Continuing Conflict and Diplomatic Efforts
The diplomatic push comes as Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to exchange drone and missile strikes, despite a temporary pause on attacks against each other’s capitals that was agreed upon during the negotiations. Both sides reported strikes overnight into Sunday.
Ushakov reiterated that Moscow remains firm on its demand that Ukraine withdraw from portions of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions still under Ukrainian control, a point Kyiv has rejected. The fundamental territorial disagreements underscore the difficulty of reaching a lasting settlement.
Broader Context
Washington’s renewed push for a settlement follows a six‑month lull in peace‑building activity, during which U.S. attention shifted toward the conflict with Iran. The administration’s renewed focus reflects a belief that a diplomatic resolution remains possible and that American leadership can help bring the war to a close.
Fox News Digital’s Robert McGreevy and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
