As Ukraine braces for yet another season of war, U.S. envoys have arrived in Kyiv carrying what a senior Ukrainian presidential official described as fresh and “more effective” ideas for ending the conflict with Russia.
Only a day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that the fighting with Russia appeared likely to stretch into the winter.
Mr Zelensky and the visiting Americans — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — struck an optimistic tone about their discussions, but they offered no announcement of a breakthrough that could bring the war to a close.
Still, the senior Ukrainian official said the latest effort marked a change in substance and momentum. “It’s not the same as it was before. This one now is more effective. They’re still talking. This is actually the most important part,” the official said.
Mr Witkoff, a business ally of US President Donald Trump, and Mr Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, travelled to Kyiv one day after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the latest in a series of trips to the region.
Ukraine’s rail operator posted on Telegram early this morning that the two envoys had departed Kyiv, sharing a photo of them standing beneath a station sign for the ‘Peace Express’.
Ukrainian officials wait under a railway sign reading ‘Peace Express’ to greet US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
Yesterday’s stop in Kyiv was the pair’s first visit to the Ukrainian capital, which has endured deadly Russian strikes for more than four years.
Speaking about the months ahead, Mr Zelensky said, “We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter – and this is how it appears at the moment.”
He also said Ukraine would hold talks with the US, France and Germany, without providing further details, and again argued that territorial questions could be resolved only through a meeting between the two leaders.
After thanking the U.S. envoys for coming to Kyiv, Mr Zelensky wrote on X, “The main thing is to achieve peace for Ukraine – a dignified, reliable, and lasting peace. We are directing all our efforts toward this.”
‘On same side’
Russia occupies large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, and on Saturday the Kremlin told the Americans it felt “confident” it would push farther.
Moscow has insisted it wants not only the territory it currently holds but international recognition of land it claims as Russian — conditions Ukraine has rejected as unacceptable.
Mr Witkoff said any deal would require concessions from both sides, adding, “We think we have the ingredients to get to that place.”
“We’ve had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we are very encouraged and we look forward to continuing this as long as it takes,” he said.
Ukrainian officials and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Kyiv
Mr Kushner echoed that view, saying, “Hopefully this trip has come out with some new ways to advance forward. I think we’ve learned a lot from the trip.”
The two envoys travelled to the area seeking to reinvigorate the Trump administration’s push for peace in Europe’s worst conflict since World War II, after a summer marked by escalation.
British, French and German representatives took part in a separate round of the talks.
Mr Zelensky said he welcomed the European presence, adding, “Here we are all on the same side.”
As with other visiting officials, the U.S. delegation arrived by train, with ‘Peace Express’ displayed on the platform at Kyiv Central Station.
Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Russia and Ukraine vowed not to strike each other’s capitals during the US envoys’ trip.
‘Substantive plans’
Russia’s invasion has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
A White House official said in a statement that in Russia the envoys had “discussed substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”.
The Kremlin, also without details, said the Americans had “put forward a number of ideas on possible routes to a settlement”.
Mr Putin has repeatedly said Russia intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine, and Russia increased deadly strikes this summer.
Since Mr Putin launched the invasion in February 2022, the war has dragged on with no end in sight.
In Ukraine, few people appeared to believe in a breakthrough.
Nataliia Lipekh, 67, said it was “absolutely necessary (for them) to be here” and to see that “our land is already soaked with this blood and that we need some help”.
