Witkoff, Kushner make first Kyiv visit for three-hour ceasefire negotiations

Talks yield no breakthrough; Zelensky warns war may continue through winter

Russia, Ukraine halt capital strikes for three days but attacks on other targets continue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff shake hands at a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday (local time). [AFP]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff shake hands at a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday (local time). [AFP]

US special envoys mediating ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday (local time), continuing peace talks a day after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Security officials from Britain, France and Germany joined the negotiations, with discussions stretching late into the evening, but the talks appeared to fall short of a clear breakthrough that could bring the war to an early end.

According to Reuters and AFP, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, traveled to the Ukrainian capital to discuss ceasefire proposals with Zelensky.

Witkoff, speaking after the roughly three-hour meeting that included a working lunch, called it "a substantive and important discussion" and said he was "very encouraged." Kushner said he hoped "this visit leads to new progress."

An expanded session followed, with national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany also taking part. Zelensky thanked the European participants and said, "We are all on the same side." Those present agreed to hold a follow-up meeting at a time and place to be determined.

After the multilateral session concluded, Zelensky and the US envoys held a separate meeting, continuing their negotiations late into the night.

Witkoff said, "We brought new ideas from Moscow that represent progress to Kyiv." A presidential office official said the ideas discussed were "not the same as before — they are more effective."

Despite the lengthy talks, the two sides appeared unable to find a breakthrough that could end the war in the near term.

Zelensky signaled that an early end to the war may not be easy, saying he was counting on support from European partners "if the war continues into winter — and at this point, it looks like it will." Ukraine is also said to be pursuing a package deal covering reinforcement of its air-defense network on top of energy support, including US LNG supplies.

It was the first time the US envoys had visited Kyiv. While they have mediated ceasefire talks between the two countries, they had visited Moscow eight times, drawing criticism that they were paying insufficient attention to Ukraine's position.

Earlier, Zelensky wrote on social media that "our proposals are ready" and stressed the importance of "negotiating in a substantive and realistic way in a coordinated manner," adding that "security guarantees are needed."

The envoys had met with Putin at the Kremlin on Sunday (local time) to discuss ceasefire proposals. Russia said it conveyed to the US side its longstanding position that it could seize the eastern Donbas region by force.

Ukraine had rejected Russia's demand for the cession of the Donbas region during negotiations earlier this year, holding firm to proposals such as freezing the current front lines.

Both sides continued strikes targeting areas outside the capitals on the night before the US envoys' Kyiv visit.

According to Russian regional authorities, Ukrainian forces attacked the Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia's largest. Russian forces said they struck a Ukrainian cargo vessel in the Black Sea and two Ukrainian military logistics centers in the Odesa region.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com