KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held high-level talks with two of US President Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine intensify.
The meeting in Kyiv marks the first visit to Ukraine by the two American representatives since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Zelensky welcomed Witkoff and Kushner at the historic St Sophia Cathedral in the Ukrainian capital, a location close to the headquarters of Ukraine’s security services, which was struck by a Russian drone on Friday.
The talks come just a day after the two US envoys met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for discussions aimed at finding a possible path towards ending the conflict.
The Kremlin described Saturday’s three-hour meeting as “frank” and “constructive”, although few concrete details have emerged from the discussions.
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Zelensky: Ukraine Is Ready for Peace Talks
Ahead of Sunday’s meeting, Zelensky signalled that Ukraine was prepared to engage seriously with the American delegation.
In a statement on social media, the Ukrainian president said his country remained committed to a constructive approach and was interested in bringing the war to an end.
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“We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine needed security guarantees and a dignified post-war peace.
He said Kyiv’s proposals were ready for discussion.
The comments underline Ukraine’s position that any agreement ending the war must go beyond simply stopping the fighting and should provide long-term security assurances for the country.
US Envoys Travel to Kyiv by Train
Witkoff and Kushner travelled to Kyiv by train after flying to Poland.
Zelensky said the delegation had been unable to land their aircraft in Ukraine, despite preparations for their arrival.
Their visit follows their meeting with Putin at the Russian president’s official residence in Moscow on Saturday.
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According to Russian state media, the closed-door meeting lasted approximately three hours.
Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as “constructive” and “extremely frank”.
Ushakov said the talks were not limited to the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that economic issues and potential major Russian-American projects were also discussed.
He also said the Russian side highlighted what it described as the Russian army’s advances on the battlefield and maintained that negotiations should address what Moscow calls the “root causes” of the conflict.
Fighting Continues Despite Diplomatic Efforts
While diplomatic activity has increased, fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has continued.
Ukraine said its forces carried out strikes against a Russian oil refinery in Ryazan, an airfield in Rostov-on-Don and two Russian air-defence systems.
Ukraine’s defence ministry said the Ryazan refinery was targeted because it supplies fuel to the Russian military.
Russia also continued its attacks against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 108 long-range drones and small cruise missiles overnight.
Ukrainian air defences said they destroyed 82 drones and six missiles.
However, the attacks still struck 11 locations, while falling debris was reported at seven additional sites.
The continuing attacks highlight the difficulty facing negotiators as diplomatic discussions take place alongside intense military operations.
Ukraine Seeks Security Guarantees
Ukraine has repeatedly argued that any peace agreement must include credible security guarantees to prevent another large-scale Russian attack in the future.
Kyiv has also increasingly targeted Russia’s economic infrastructure, particularly oil refineries and other energy facilities, as part of its military strategy.
Ukraine says it has faced difficulties defending its cities against Russian ballistic missile attacks because of shortages of interceptor missiles.
Russia, meanwhile, continues to hold approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
Although Russian forces have made some advances, their ground offensive has generally progressed slowly during much of the conflict and has come at a significant human cost.
A Critical Moment for Diplomacy
The meetings in Kyiv and Moscow represent a significant diplomatic effort by the Trump administration to explore a possible route towards ending the war.
The fact that Witkoff and Kushner have met both Putin and Zelensky within a short period provides Washington with an opportunity to assess the positions of both sides directly.
However, major differences remain.
Ukraine wants a settlement that guarantees its future security and protects its sovereignty, while Russia has insisted that any agreement must address its broader demands concerning the conflict and territories under Russian control.
For now, there is no confirmed comprehensive peace agreement or ceasefire.
But with American diplomacy intensifying and senior officials holding direct discussions with both Moscow and Kyiv, attention is increasingly focused on whether the latest talks can produce tangible progress.
For Zelensky, the message remains clear: Ukraine is prepared to discuss peace, but any settlement must provide security and preserve the country’s dignity after more than four years of full-scale war.
