US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner said after talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv that the discussion had been substantive and that they were prepared to remain in Ukraine for as long as necessary. The next round of talks is expected to include the United States and the E3 countries — the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
After the meeting, Witkoff thanked Zelenskyy for his hospitality and described the trip to Ukraine as “wonderful”.
“We had a very meaningful, substantive and important conversation. We are very encouraged. We plan to stay here for as long as needed,” the US envoy said.
Kushner, for his part, conveyed President Donald Trump’s respect to Zelenskyy. He said the US president views the current situation as difficult because the challenge is not only to end the war but also to create conditions for a lasting peace.
Kushner also said Trump wants to create conditions after the war in which Ukraine can realise its potential for recovery and development.
“We hope that as a result of this trip we can find a new path to peace,” he said.
According to Kushner, meetings with Ukrainian representatives are effectively scheduled for every day, meaning the negotiations will continue.
After the first round, Zelenskyy said the next discussion would take place in an expanded format.
“The next round of talks will be together with the United States and the E3 countries: the United Kingdom, France and Germany,” the president said.
This means three key European countries will be directly involved in the negotiation process. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that Europe should be represented in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Kyiv after holding talks in Moscow with Vladimir Putin. The US side views the current trip as another attempt to advance negotiations on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
