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 in Ukraine. The US President's son-in-law and special envoy Jared Kushner, along with business partner Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow and Kyiv last week to revive US-led talks to conclude the conflict that has ravaged Ukraine for over four years.

The pair's visit to Kyiv was their inaugural trip. During a video address to the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv, Kushner expressed hope that within a couple of weeks, the "next steps" in the peace process would be announced, bringing them closer to a pathway forward.

Kushner mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin's commitment to finding a resolution, a statement met with laughter in the conference room. He also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, voicing optimism about the diplomatic process despite no breakthrough being declared.

The US officials acknowledged the complexity of the issues but praised the constructive engagement with both sides, emphasizing that negotiations have been positive. However, they noted that neither Russia nor Ukraine has altered their positions.

Kushner hinted at the possibility of trilateral talks involving all three parties, suggesting the US might return to Kyiv when there is more to discuss. He commended the Ukrainian people's resilience and the progress made during the talks, including a three-day ceasefire that allowed the visit to take place.

While both sides vowed not to attack their main cities during the talks, Kushner expressed optimism for a longer-lasting ceasefire.