💢 Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Vladimir Zelensky spoke after US-Ukrainian talks in Kiev, one day

💢 Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Vladimir Zelensky spoke after US-Ukrainian talks in Kiev, one day after Witkoff and Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow:

• Witkoff said President Trump sent him and Kushner to restart negotiations, adding that the US delegation felt good about the results of both the Moscow and Kiev discussions.

• Kushner said Trump’s objective is not simply to stop the fighting, but to construct a “peace package” capable of producing a durable settlement, with the US also working closely with European partners.

• In Moscow, Kushner said they reviewed ideas that had failed previously and discussed with Putin what Russia, Ukraine and the wider world could gain from a settlement. He described the meeting as constructive and substantive.

• The US side wants to return to the trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine format used roughly six months ago. Kushner said Washington has discussed this with both sides and hopes for progress “very soon,” including on broader issues and possible de-escalatory steps.

• Kushner said “a lot of new ideas” are being put forward. He stressed that there is now a dialogue and a potential pathway forward, although no agreement is guaranteed and progress could come quickly or slowly.

• He added that Washington has been doing extensive work “behind the scenes” and is working closely with the E3 partners to create conditions for progress.

• Asked whether Washington would increase pressure on Russia if diplomacy fails, Kushner did not commit to specific measures, saying Trump has “a lot of different ways to play it”, while his and Witkoff’s role is to pursue a negotiated peace.

• Witkoff said he has now made around eight visits to Moscow and has always been treated respectfully by Putin and his team. He argued that relationships with both sides are essential if the conflict is to be resolved and said the US goal is to narrow the outstanding differences.

• Zelensky backed efforts to organize trilateral talks, potentially with European partners also involved, saying Ukraine would see what format Russia is prepared to accept.

• Zelensky confirmed that “several genuinely new ideas” were discussed in Kiev. He said Ukraine needs time to analyze them before disclosing details publicly and expects Ukraine, the US and Europe to discuss the proposals further in the coming weeks.

• Zelensky described accelerated diplomacy as “Plan A” for reducing escalation. He also argued that Ukraine’s stronger battlefield position gives Kiev greater confidence in future negotiations and said that without military strength, Ukraine would face only ultimatums.

• Zelensky said the Donbass question is not simply territorial, but central to what he described as a war of survival and attrition. He called the region a major Russian objective and a strategic Ukrainian stronghold.

• On air defense, Zelensky said the US is expected to increase production of Patriot interceptor missiles next year, while Germany has also increased production. He said Ukraine is additionally working toward its own anti-ballistic capability.

• Zelensky said 67 Ukrainian companies are working on systems to intercept jet-powered drones, with three to five already demonstrating results and efforts underway to develop mass-production capacity.

• He also warned that winter and financing remain serious challenges, citing shortages affecting the military, humanitarian needs and domestic defense production.

• On proposed US sanctions against Russia associated with Senator Lindsey Graham, Zelensky said the issue was not raised during the talks. He said he still expects the package to come to a vote and does not believe the renewed negotiating effort is connected to its timing.

• In his closing remarks, Witkoff said the US delegation had made “a lot of progress in Moscow” and heard new ideas there. He said Washington is hopeful that a trilateral meeting will be announced “in short order,” while stressing that both Russia and Ukraine will have to make compromises.

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