U.S. envoys make first Kyiv visit amid Ukraine war peace push

US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday for their first visit to the capital city, coming a day after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This marks a significant development as the two had not met in Kyiv before, despite visiting Moscow several times, where the war has intensified since Russia's invasion in 2022.

The Americans are expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Eyewitnesses reported the envoys' arrival by train. The primary aim of their visit is to revive negotiations aimed at ending Europe's worst conflict since WWII. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.

The White House official stated that Kushner and Witkoff discussed potential steps for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, which they plan to announce in the coming weeks. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as "extremely frank," explaining that the Americans presented several ideas for achieving a settlement, though specifics were not divulged.

The Russian side assured the Americans of their military confidence in achieving its objectives of seizing the remaining eastern Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have pledged not to target each other's capitals during the negotiations. The leaders of both nations agreed to a limited truce from midnight on Saturday, with Zelenskyy promising that Ukraine would not strike Moscow during this period.

However, despite this ceasefire, fighting continued elsewhere, with Russia launching drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. Putin's televised address before the talks revealed his assurance of the envoys' safety in Kyiv, though for many Ukrainians, hopes for a breakthrough remain low, as they feel negotiations have been ongoing for too long.