Former Trump administration special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday, expressing optimism about advancing the peace process between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting followed separate discussions the envoys held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.
"We came here, and I think we really feel good about what has happened in the conversations in Moscow and now the conversations here," Witkoff stated. This marked the first official visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine, though Witkoff had made previous trips to Moscow.
The envoys stated that former President Donald Trump is focused on creating a framework for a durable peace. They indicated a potential return to a trilateral format involving both parties, which they had utilized previously.
Details of any potential peace plan were not publicly disclosed. Previous proposals have encountered significant challenges, including disagreements over the control of the Donbas region. Russia has sought full control of Donbas, while Ukraine's constitution prohibits the surrender of territory. Ukrainian officials also expressed concerns about potential military vulnerability if territory is ceded to Russia.
Kushner also briefly addressed ongoing efforts to navigate conflicts in the Middle East, noting political complexities in Israel and the significant challenge of demilitarizing Gaza. Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Kyiv by train, arriving after Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil international airports.
Separately, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright commented on the economic impact of the war, noting that the destruction of Russian refineries by Ukraine has contributed to high diesel prices and led Russia to ban diesel exports. He described the war's fallout as a significant factor affecting diesel prices.
