US hopes to announce ‘next steps’ for Ukraine-Russia talks within weeks

US envoy Jared Kushner expressed optimism about the peace process but announced no breakthrough in efforts to end the fighting. The US President's son-in-law and special envoy, along with business partner Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow and Kyiv last week to revive US-led talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine, which has raged for over four years and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Their visit to Kyiv was their first, and Kushner addressed the Yalta European Strategy forum in the city via video call, though his remarks were not aired until the next day. "I really hope in the next couple of weeks we'll be able to announce what the next steps are," Kushner said, adding that he hoped the upcoming discussions would bring them closer to a pathway forward.

Both the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were present during the meetings, and the US officials expressed optimism about the process, though no breakthrough was announced. The negotiations, which have seen several rounds in recent years, have only resulted in the exchange of prisoners of war, with neither side altering their positions.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated its intention to seize the rest of Ukraine. Both countries pledged not to attack their main cities during the talks, and the US envoys praised the ceasefire that was recently implemented, hoping it would lead to a longer, more enduring truce.