U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Sunday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other top Ukrainian officials. The visit follows three hours of talks the envoys held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday. The Trump administration is seeking to advance a peace proposal to end the four-and-a-half-year conflict, though no immediate breakthrough was reported.

Diplomatic Efforts and Negotiations

Following their discussions in Moscow, the U.S. envoys traveled to Kyiv for a working lunch and a round of negotiations that lasted approximately three hours. Steve Witkoff characterized the talks as substantive and encouraging. President Zelenskiy, who views Washington as central to any potential resolution, stated that his government has prepared specific proposals and emphasized the need for security guarantees. Further meetings involving European representatives, including national security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany, were scheduled for later Sunday.

Conflict Status and Recent Developments

While front lines along the 1,200-kilometer border remain largely static, both sides have intensified long-range air strikes. Russia has targeted Kyiv with missiles and drones for two weeks, including a strike on the SBU security service headquarters on Friday. In response, Ukraine has targeted Russian infrastructure, including an overnight strike on the Ryazan oil refinery. The Kremlin announced a temporary pause in strikes on Kyiv until Monday, with President Zelenskiy confirming a reciprocal halt to strikes on Moscow.

Stances on Peace and Security

The two sides remain divided on key issues, including the status of the Donbas region. Russia continues to demand a Ukrainian withdrawal from towns it currently controls in the area, a condition Kyiv has rejected. For Ukraine, the primary objective remains securing firm security guarantees from the U.S. and European allies to prevent future invasions. Zelenskiy has noted that a window of opportunity for peace exists before the U.S. shifts its focus toward the upcoming presidential election.