US envoys hold ‘substantive’ talks with Zelenskyy in first visit to Kyiv

What the report says

United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday, in what Al Jazeera reported was their first visit to the Ukrainian capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The talks focused on ways to end Russia’s war against Ukraine and came one day after the same US delegation met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Zelenskyy said the delegation’s presence was important and said he expected several sessions, including one involving European national security advisers. Al Jazeera reported that Ukrainian security officials and negotiators were also present. After the meeting, Witkoff said he was encouraged by what he called a substantive discussion, while Kushner said President Donald Trump wanted not only to end the current war but also to create conditions for a durable peace.

The visit comes amid continuing efforts by the Trump administration to advance peace talks that have so far produced little progress. According to Al Jazeera, the US side has floated ideas for a possible settlement, though details have not been made public. The article also noted that both Russia and Ukraine had pledged not to strike each other’s capitals for three days around the visit, even as fighting continued elsewhere.

More broadly, the conflict remains centered on disputed territory in eastern Ukraine and on security guarantees sought by Kyiv to deter future Russian attacks. The latest meetings underscore how difficult the negotiations remain, even as Washington continues to pursue a diplomatic opening.