US envoys Witkoff and Kushner hold Ukraine talks after meeting Putin

US diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday, engaging in encouraging discussions during their inaugural official visit to the country. However, no significant progress was made toward resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both nations continue to disagree on crucial matters, especially regarding territorial concessions.

Kushner emphasized the difficulty of the situation, stating that the United States is working behind the scenes to create the necessary conditions for a potential deal. The joint trip to Kyiv began with a train ride from Poland following a daylong meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Upon arriving in Kyiv, Zelenskyy detailed the focus of the talks, which centered around military aid, including Patriot missile systems and other essential weapons.

He emphasized the need for substantial US support, backed by its European partners, to sustain Ukraine's efforts in the conflict. Zelenskyy also expressed appreciation for the presence of European representatives in Kyiv. Despite recent efforts to end the four-and-a-half-year-old war, US President Donald Trump's momentum has waned since his January meeting with Putin, which did not yield results.

Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, described the Moscow discussions as constructive, frank, and beneficial, but did not provide specific outcomes. The negotiations have historically struggled to align both parties on key issues, including the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials, such as Zelenskyy's chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, predict that the fighting will persist into spring 2027 and anticipate more Russian strategic air strikes during the coming winter.

The war has intensified, with Putin aiming for the complete takeover of Donbas and targeting Ukraine's capital with Russian drones. In response, Ukraine has focused its drone attacks on Russia's energy sector and online retailers within Russia to bring the conflict closer to home.