US working on 'peace package' for Ukraine after talks with Putin, Zelenskyy

US diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Ukraine on Sunday to work on a potential peace agreement, following three hours of discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This marked the first visit by the US negotiators to Ukraine, where they will spend three days. In Moscow, their talks with Putin did not result in a breakthrough, though Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov deemed the meeting "highly useful."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the envoys' arrival, emphasizing that Ukraine is prepared for a peace deal but insists on firm security guarantees and a dignified post-war peace. He said his proposals were ready before the envoys' arrival.

Zelenskyy described his discussions with the US team as "very substantial," noting that they covered security, economic guarantees, and a broader prosperity plan for Ukraine. He expressed hope that the American negotiators would return for further talks. Witkoff echoed similar sentiments, stating that the discussions were "substantive" and that the US aims for a diplomatic resolution rather than a military one.

Kushner added that Washington is crafting a "peace package," while also considering the possibility of reviving a trilateral negotiating format involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, with European nations expected to participate through their national security advisers.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine has seen an escalation in recent days, with both sides intensifying long-range strikes. Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, while Ukraine retaliates by striking Russian oil refineries and infrastructure to increase the war's cost for Moscow. For now, the strikes have paused until Monday, coinciding with the US envoys' three-day visit to Ukraine.