Ukraine-Krieg: Kein Fortschritt bei Kiew-Besuch von Kushner und Witkoff

In a train dubbed the "Peace Express", US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff embarked on their inaugural visit to Kiev on Sunday. Upon arriving at the train station, they were whisked away in black SUVs to the Holy Sophia Cathedral, where President Volodymyr Zelensky warmly embraced them. Following a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, they proceeded to discussions.

Witkoff later described the talks as "encouraging", but no concrete progress was reported. National security advisers from Germany, France, and Britain also visited Kiev to brief the Americans. The Europeans, having become the primary supporters of Kiev since the reduction of US aid under Donald Trump, now seek to be integrated into the negotiations.

Previously, on Saturday, Kushner and Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin leadership in Moscow. Both men had a history of meeting in Moscow, with Witkoff being received as a familiar figure. Upon meeting Putin, Witkoff praised him, saying, "When we retire, we will have all these incredible stories and memories, and yours will be at the top."

In return, Putin expressed full confidence in the US negotiators, stating, "You enjoy our full trust."