U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held “encouraging” talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in their first official visit to Ukraine but made no breakthrough towards ending the war with Russia, according to official reports.
U.S. Envoys Press Diplomatic Push Following Moscow Meetings
The visit to Ukraine followed talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday which a Kremlin aide said were “highly useful” while also giving no indication of a breakthrough. A White House official stated that the American representatives discussed substantive plans in Russia that will be announced in the coming weeks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Putin ordered Russian forces to halt strikes on Kyiv for three days starting “at midnight today” during the diplomatic push.
Zelenskyy Seeks Serious Volumes of U.S. Support for Winter Infrastructure
During a news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy announced that his talks with the envoys on Sunday covered air defence needs – including Patriot systems – and a “winter package” of support covering both air defence and energy infrastructure before the colder months. Kyiv was seeking “serious volumes” of American support on that front, with backing from European partners as well. Zelenskyy told reporters that he expects the war to continue into the winter months and noted that he did not expect an increase in Patriot air defense supplies from the U.S. until “next year.”
Military Escalations Continue Across Frontlines and Borders
Despite diplomatic maneuvers, fighting intensified across multiple fronts. Zelenskyy stated that Russia had intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities before Russia’s State Duma election later this month, calling the attacks deliberate “terror” against civilians. In response, Ukraine was working with 67 domestic companies developing systems to shoot down Russia’s jet-powered drones at scale. Meanwhile, kinetic strikes persisted outside the capital. The Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported via Telegram that a girl was killed and three other people were wounded in a Ukraine drone attack on the Russia-held Black Sea port city of Sevastopol late on Sunday. Russian news agencies cited the defence ministry as saying on Sunday that forces struck a Ukrainian cargo vessel in the Black Sea which was carrying military equipment supplied to the Ukrainian army by western countries. Concurrently, Ukrainian forces struck the Ryazan oil refinery – about 480km (300 miles) inside Russia – causing a fire, Ukraine said on Sunday.
Diplomatic Friction Spreads to Berlin Over Airport Drone Incident
Diplomatic fallout widened as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Germany of effectively declaring war. According to state news agency Tass, Lavrov asserted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks regarding a drone incident near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany’s Leipzig airport marked the start of “a real war”. Berlin has already ordered a series of measures in response to the attack attempt.
Did you know?
U.S. envoys traveled to Kyiv by train, as recent Russian strikes near the capital’s Boryspil airport prevented a journey by plane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the U.S. envoys achieve a peace breakthrough in Kyiv?
No. While one senior Ukrainian presidential official described the new proposals as more effective than before, the envoys made no breakthrough towards ending the war with Russia.
What were the main topics discussed between Zelenskyy and the U.S. envoys?
According to official statements, the meetings covered air defence needs – including Patriot systems – and a “winter package” of support covering both air defence and energy infrastructure, as well as security guarantees and economic guarantees.
Where else did the U.S. envoys travel during their diplomatic mission?
Prior to visiting Kyiv, Witkoff and Kushner held more than three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.