US Envoys Hold Talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv After Meeting Putin in Renewed Ukraine Peace Push

KYIV — U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday as Washington renewed diplomatic efforts to help end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The discussions came a day after Witkoff and Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, marking a renewed U.S. attempt to revive stalled negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. The American envoys described their discussions in Kyiv as encouraging, although no major breakthrough was announced.

Witkoff and Kushner said the United States remained committed to pursuing a diplomatic settlement. Kushner acknowledged that reaching an agreement would be difficult, particularly because fundamental differences between Moscow and Kyiv remain unresolved.

The two sides continue to hold sharply different positions on key issues, including territorial questions and security guarantees. Kushner said the United States was working behind the scenes to establish conditions that could eventually facilitate an agreement.

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, emphasized Ukraine’s security needs, including the strengthening of its air defenses ahead of the winter season. He also indicated that territorial and security matters would ultimately require decisions at the highest political level.

The diplomatic engagement comes amid a renewed escalation in Russian and Ukrainian aerial attacks. Recent strikes have caused civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, underscoring the difficult environment in which the latest peace efforts are taking place.

Despite the absence of an immediate breakthrough, the meetings in Moscow and Kyiv signal Washington’s effort to maintain dialogue with both sides and explore possibilities for resuming direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

The latest diplomatic initiative follows months of stalled efforts, while continued fighting and disagreements over territory and security arrangements remain major obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement.