Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs discusses the diplomatic initiatives by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Ukraine. This is set against the backdrop of U.S. military actions targeting three Iranian oil tankers aiming to counteract hostile activities in the region.
On Sunday, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This followed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous day, aiming to mediate the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
President Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s readiness for negotiations. He stated, “Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive. We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. A dignified character of the postwar peace is needed.” Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of working in a coordinated and realistic manner by stating, “Our proposals are ready.”
Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive. We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. A dignified character of the postwar peace is needed.
The meeting with Putin lasted over three hours, though it concluded without any notable advances. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov called the discussions “constructive, frank, and useful,” but withheld specifics regarding the outcomes.
According to a White House official, both delegations discussed “substantive plans for next steps.” These steps are anticipated to be disclosed in the upcoming weeks. The U.S. team anticipates having “equally productive meetings” in Kyiv.
This effort coincides with Washington’s renewed focus on negotiating a resolution to the war initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Previously, such efforts stalled as U.S. attention shifted toward conflict with Iran.
Significant disparities persist between Moscow and Kyiv, particularly concerning territorial demands. Kyiv refuses to meet Russia’s request to withdraw from parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are still under Ukrainian control. Ushakov noted that Moscow delivered a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing conflict to the U.S. delegation during the meeting.
The discussions also extended into economic matters. Ushakov mentioned that “economic issues and potentially large, mutually beneficial joint projects for Russia and America were discussed in considerable detail.”
President Donald Trump confirmed sending Witkoff and Kushner to explore potential pathways to peace. “We have an idea for peace. I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators,” Trump commented to reporters, expressing optimism about the prospects.
This diplomatic initiative arises while Russia and Ukraine continue to launch drone and missile attacks. Despite the agreed pause on targeting each other’s capitals during ongoing negotiations, both sides reported strikes as the talks proceeded.