US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have arrived in Kyiv for a second day of talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met them in Sophia Square, in front of Kyiv’s historic Saint Sophia Cathedral. Zelenskyy greeted Witkoff with a hug, saying: “It’s good to see you, Steve.”
The cathedral sits just a few hundred metres from the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency, which was hit by a Russian drone on Friday afternoon. That attack marked an escalation in a conflict that has now lasted more than four and a half years.
Witkoff and Kushner are meeting Zelenskyy a day after holding three hours of talks in Moscow with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. The US envoys have visited Russia several times, but this is their first trip to Ukraine. The visit is meant to signal a push to intensify efforts to end the war, though details of any peace proposal remain unclear.
British, French, and German national security advisers were reportedly in Kyiv on Sunday before Witkoff and Kushner arrived.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine on ending the war have centred on a 20-point peace plan put forward by Washington and Kyiv in December. But the two sides have failed to agree on several key issues, including control of territory in eastern Ukraine.
A White House official said on Saturday that the talks with Moscow “discussed substantive plans for next steps” to end the war and that an announcement would follow in the coming weeks. Senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “extremely frank” and said there was recognition of the need to address “the root causes of the conflict”.
Moscow and Kyiv pledged to avoid striking each other’s capitals for three days to allow the negotiators to travel safely. Zelenskyy said on Sunday that plans for the US envoys to fly into Moscow had been disrupted by Russian strikes on Kyiv’s two main airports on Friday evening.
Ukrainian airspace has been closed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Other visiting officials have travelled overland by train from neighbouring countries.
Kyiv and the surrounding areas have faced daily drone strikes for more than a week, the most sustained attack on Ukraine’s capital in months. The capital is now enjoying a break from the strikes and air raid alerts that had become routine, but other parts of the country are still being hit. Ukrainian authorities reported on Sunday that at least eight people had been killed and 69 injured across Ukraine in the past day.
Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which are used to shoot down incoming threats. Many recent Russian strikes have involved new-model jet-powered drones that can reach speeds of 250mph, making them hard to intercept.
Many Ukrainians are worried about the war dragging into a fifth year and are anxious about the coming winter. This week, Zelenskyy’s defence technology adviser, Serhii Beskrestnov, told the Guardian that the government should consider evacuating elderly people from Kyiv, as Putin had ordered the Russian military to “prepare and carry out mass strikes” on Ukraine’s energy facilities.
Russia and Ukraine have both stepped up their use of long-range missiles in recent weeks, aiming to weaken each other’s morale.Here is the revised text:
…each other’s countries. Additional research by Illia Dyadik.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs regarding the arrival of US envoys Kushner and Witkoff in Kyiv following their talks with Putin
General Background Questions
Q Who are Kushner and Witkoff and why are they in Kyiv
A Jared Kushner is a senior advisor to former President Trump and Steve Witkoff is a US envoy and real estate investor They are in Kyiv as part of a US diplomatic push to negotiate a ceasefire or peace deal between Russia and Ukraine
Q Wait I thought they were just in Moscow talking to Putin Why did they come to Kyiv
A They are acting as messengers The US is trying to shuttle diplomacythey hear Russias demands in Moscow then bring those proposals to Ukraines President Zelensky to see if he will accept them or make a counteroffer Its a way to bridge the gap between the two sides without holding direct talks
Q Is this a sign that a peace deal is imminent
A Not necessarily It shows that the US is serious about pushing for a deal but its a very early stage The fact that they are traveling to both capitals means negotiations are active but a final agreement is still likely far off
Q Did they actually meet with Putin What did they discuss
A Yes Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow before coming to Kyiv Reports suggest they discussed a partial ceasefire and the terms of a potential broader truce The details are still being kept private to avoid derailing the talks
Specifics Strategy Questions
Q Why is the US sending envoys instead of just calling Zelensky on the phone
A Highstakes diplomacy requires facetoface interaction Sending senior envoys shows respect to the Ukrainian leadership and allows for nuanced offtherecord discussions that cant happen over a secure phone line It also allows them to gauge Zelenskys body language and true intentions
Q What is the main sticking point in these negotiations
