US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff on September 6 held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on ending the conflict with Russia, during their first visit to Kiev, one day after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2 special envoys arrived in the Ukrainian capital by train, hoping to revive the negotiation process to end the worst conflict in Europe since World War II, after an escalating summer.
Mr. Zelensky posted a video of the meeting with Mr. Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Trump's business partner, in central Kiev, with the caption: "Negotiations have begun". Also attending were security officials and top Ukrainian negotiators, along with a number of European national security advisors.
The two special envoys have been to Moscow 8 times but have never negotiated in Kiev. Mr. Zelensky took US guests to visit the historic Saint Sophia Cathedral, opposite the building of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) which was just hit by a Russian drone 2 days ago.
US efforts have so far not created a breakthrough, partly because the peace process is stalled by Washington's war with Iran. Russia currently controls large areas in eastern and southern Ukraine, while Putin affirms Moscow is determined to control the rest of the East.
Both Russia and Ukraine pledged not to attack each other's capitals for 3 days around the US delegation's trip. However, fighting continued elsewhere.
