Ukraine-Krieg: USA hoffen auf direkte Gespräche zwischen Moskau und Kiew

After US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Moscow and Kyiv, there remains uncertainty about the proposals they presented to the warring parties. It is also unclear if direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia mediated by the US will resume. Kushner stated at the conclusion of the first visit of the US envoy to the Ukrainian capital that a trilateral format could lead to progress.

The US last sat at the negotiating table with Russia and Ukraine in Switzerland in February as mediators. In recent months, talks have been on hold due to the US being distracted by the Iran war. Both Ukrainian leadership and their European allies accuse Washington of not applying enough pressure on Russia. President Donald Trump had told Witkoff and Kushner ahead of their visit that they would bring a new proposal to end the war.

While Selenskyj and the US envoys addressed the press in Kyiv, specific details from their discussions were not disclosed. Kushner acknowledged, "It's really a difficult problem," but emphasized President Trump's commitment to finding a solution, recalling his earlier boast about ending the war within 24 hours. Meetings with Europeans are expected "soon," said Selenskyj, without specifying a concrete date.

Selenskyj reiterated the view that a high-level meeting would be needed to solve key issues in the Ukraine conflict, such as dividing contested territories. Selenskyj described the talks with Witkoff and Kushner as "extremely substantive." However, he made it clear that little concrete was achieved. "If the war drags on into winter, and current trends suggest it will, we need a winter package," he was quoted by Ukrainian media.

In Kyiv, concerns are growing that with dwindling ammunition for air defense systems, undetected ballistic missile strikes by the Russians could severely damage the country's critical infrastructure. Moscow continues to target Ukraine's energy supply, which could exacerbate the already strained civilian population during the cold winter months with power and heating outages.

Ukraine needs a "Plan A" and a "Plan B" for the coming months, Selenskyj stated. If intensified diplomatic efforts and non-military pressure measures against Russia fail, Ukraine needs to quickly implement its own protective measures against rocket and drone attacks. Selenskyj had jokingly previously told his guests from Washington that Witkoff and Kushner's presence "worked better than the Patriot missile defense systems" produced in the US.

He hoped they would visit Kyiv more often so city residents could breathe easier without constant Russian attacks. In Moscow and Kyiv, a three-day pause in attacks on Kiew was declared by Kremlin chief Putin during the US envoys' visit. The Ukraine military command reported over 200 Russian attacks along various front sections, which were successfully repelled.

In Dnipro, a drone strike on a logistics center killed one worker and injured three others, according to regional military governor Olexander Ganscha on Telegram. Russian attacks on the Crimean peninsula and the border town of Belgorod resulted in the deaths of several Ukrainians, though these reports could not be independently verified.