Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that the war with Russia is likely to persist into the winter months following a diplomatic visit by Donald Trump’s senior advisers to Kyiv. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had met with Russian leadership in Moscow the previous day, conducted several hours of closed-door discussions with Ukrainian officials. While Witkoff characterized the talks as “substantive” and reported that the team had “made a lot of progress in Moscow,” no major breakthroughs were announced following the meetings.
Zelensky stressed his commitment to achieving a just peace that would prevent future Russian aggression. He noted that should fighting continue into the winter as anticipated, Ukraine would require additional air defense systems and energy infrastructure support. Following the discussions, Zelensky indicated that officials from Ukraine, Europe, and the United States would convene in the near future to pursue further negotiations. Both Witkoff and Kushner expressed optimism about the diplomatic process, with Kushner noting that the American team had reviewed various proposals that had previously failed and explored elements necessary for establishing “durable peace.”
The visit itself was notable for its logistics and timing. The American envoys traveled to Kyiv by train after flying to Poland, as aircraft landing proved impossible despite preparation efforts. Putin and Zelensky had agreed to a three-day pause in strikes against each other’s capitals during the negotiation period. However, military operations continued elsewhere, with Ukrainian forces conducting strikes on Russian oil refineries and airbases while Russian forces launched sustained drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian positions.
Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov characterized the Moscow discussions as “constructive” and “extremely frank,” indicating that conversations extended beyond the Ukrainian conflict to encompass economic matters and potential bilateral projects. He noted that the Russian side acknowledged the need to address root causes of the conflict. The talks reflect an intensification of diplomatic efforts amid continued escalation of aerial operations, with both nations employing large-scale drone and missile strikes targeting military and economic infrastructure.
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