U.S. diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Kyiv on Sunday for their inaugural visit to Ukraine as part of a renewed effort for peace over four and a half years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The American visit came after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, amid escalating aerial attacks by both sides.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for a “constructive” dialogue with the U.S. envoys, emphasizing the importance of ending the war and ensuring security guarantees for a just and lasting postwar peace. Witkoff and Kushner were welcomed by high-ranking Ukrainian officials upon their arrival by train at the Kyiv station before meeting Zelenskyy at a ceremony in St. Sophia Square.
The U.S. efforts to halt the conflict had slowed down as the previous administration had been preoccupied with the Iran war for the last six months. The last confirmed visit to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner was in January, where they also engaged in talks with Putin at the Kremlin.
The closed-door meeting in Moscow on Saturday, lasting over three hours, concluded without any significant announcements. While described as constructive, frank, and useful, specific outcomes were not disclosed. The discussions covered not only the war in Ukraine but also economic matters and potential joint projects between Russia and the U.S.
The ongoing air warfare between Russia and Ukraine has intensified, with both sides struggling to advance along the 1,250-kilometer front line. Despite an agreement between Putin and Zelenskyy to halt strikes on each other’s capitals during the talks, there were reports of continued exchanges of fire. Russian attacks in various Ukrainian regions resulted in casualties and damages. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting a significant number of drones and missiles launched by Russia.
On the ground in Kyiv, a moment of silence was observed to honor Ukraine’s fallen soldiers, with hopes pinned on the talks in Moscow and Kyiv to bring an end to the conflict. While some, like Nataliia Lipei, whose son was a casualty of the conflict, remained optimistic, others, like video editor Oleksandr Pastukhov, expressed skepticism about the potential impact of the envoys’ visit on the situation.
The situation remains tense as efforts continue to find a resolution to the conflict and ensure lasting peace in the region.