Ukrainian president indicates winter conflict with Russia likely to persist
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Kyiv, discussing the ongoing war with Russia and potential future agreements.
Engagements between US envoys and Ukrainian leadership highlight the ongoing international efforts to navigate the conflict’s complexities and seek a diplomatic resolution amidst increasing military tensions.
“We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter.”
War is likely to drag on into winter according to Zelenskyy following talks with US envoys
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Following talks held on Sunday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team and US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, the Ukrainian President said that war with Russia “at the moment” is likely to continue into winter.
“We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter — and this is how it appears at the moment.” Zelenskyy said.
Witkoff added that comprise would be needed to be seen from both side.
It was Witkoff and Kushner’s first time travelling to Kyiv, who gave positive feedback of the talks however lacked to announce any breakthroughs on ending the war with Russia.
“We think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” he said.
“We’ve had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we are very encouraged and we look forward to continuing this as long as it takes.”
Kushner added, “Hopefully this trip has come out with some new ways to advance forward. I think we’ve learned a lot from the trip.”
Meanwhile, according to Zelenskyy more talks with British, German and French representatives were still ongoing.
Earlier in the day Zelenskyy had said “We are expecting one session of our talks, and then another session will be held with the European NSAs (national security advisors).”
The Ukrainian President noted that he was grateful for the presence of European partners, “Here we are all on the same side.” he said.
One day before, Witkoff, who is US President Trump’s business ally, and Kushner who is Trump’s son in law had travelled to Moscow to meet with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
They then arrived to Kyiv in the same way as all the other delegations, by train, with “Peace Express” written on the platform at Kyiv Central Station. Though Zelenskyy said “everything” had been prepared “to make our airports operational”, but Russian strikes ruled out that option.
Both Putin and Zelenskyy have vowed not to launch strikes on Moscow and Kyiv during whilst the US envoys hold talks.
Ukraine’s airspace has been closed since 2022 when Russia launched it’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Previously in Moscow
In a statement a White House official said that in Moscow envoys had “discussed substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said the Americans “put forward a number of ideas on possible routes to a settlement”, without saying more.
Strikes on Ukraine have increased this summer while Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow wants to occupy the rest of eastern Ukraine.