Zelenskyy Sees No Fast End to War After Meeting With US Envoys
Ukraine is resigned to Russia’s war dragging on through another tough winter and is looking for a “package” from allies that would cover air defense reinforcements as well as energy, including US LNG.
Ukraine anticipates a protracted Russia-Ukraine war continuing through the upcoming winter, seeking a comprehensive package from allies encompassing air defense reinforcements and energy support, including US liquefied natural gas (LNG). Zelenskyy engaged with reporters following a meeting in Kyiv with President Donald Trump's delegation, comprising Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who were joined by security officials from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
The US, Ukraine, and Europe agreed to further meetings at a later date and location. Following the discussions, Witkoff declared progress achieved in Moscow, stating that new ideas were brought back to Kyiv. Ukraine is hesitant due to Russia's persistent territorial demands and the lack of progress in prior negotiations. Witkoff and Kushner had engaged in extensive talks with Putin, aiming to develop actionable ideas for resolving the conflict.
Zelenskyy reiterates Ukraine's unwavering commitment to maintaining its territorial integrity, rejecting Russia's requests for additional territory. On the sidelines of the talks, Ukraine and Russia declared a temporary ceasefire to facilitate dialogue and display goodwill, though sporadic clashes persist. The discussions also addressed a postwar "prosperity plan" for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy emphasized that major territorial disputes, such as Russia's insistence on Ukraine ceding more eastern Donbas region land, should be resolved at the "leader level." Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region must be surrendered as part of any peace deal. The US envoys' visit to Kyiv followed three hours of talks with Russian officials in Moscow on Saturday, described by a Kremlin aide as "highly useful."
Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks "substantive, constructive, extremely frank and trusting." This was the first time since being appointed to lead negotiations on behalf of Trump that Kushner and Witkoff had set foot in Kyiv. In a Friday Oval Office address, President Trump proclaimed that his representatives were bringing a proposal to end the war, although he did not provide further details.
Trump had previously pledged during his 2024 campaign to swiftly resolve the Ukrainian conflict, yet the longest war in Europe since World War II has proven exceptionally challenging to conclude. Since the US-led war on Iran commenced in late February, the longest war in Europe since World War II has tested the limits of diplomatic efforts.
Upon arrival in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelenskyy addressed his nation via social media, reaffirming Ukraine's constructive approach and the necessity of security guarantees and a dignified postwar peace.
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