Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said US presidential advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are likely to visit Kyiv within the next two weeks following his recent meeting with President Donald Trump.
In an interview with Axios on July 28, Zelenskyy said the planned visit would be the first by Kushner and Witkoff to Ukraine after they made several trips to Russia as part of US diplomatic efforts.
According to Zelenskyy, one of the outcomes of his meeting with Trump was the prospect of the two envoys travelling to Kyiv to discuss possible steps toward restarting peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
The Ukrainian president said he intends to hold detailed discussions with Kushner and Witkoff on proposals to relaunch talks aimed at ending the war. He also said he wants the two advisers to see the situation in Ukraine firsthand.
US mediation efforts between Moscow and Kyiv have largely been overshadowed in recent months by the conflict involving Iran. While Kushner and Witkoff remain in contact with both Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, Zelenskyy noted that much of their recent focus has shifted to developments related to Iran.
Despite the change in priorities, Zelenskyy said both US envoys continue to seek a ceasefire that could create space for diplomatic negotiations.
However, he expressed scepticism that Russian President Vladimir Putin would agree to halt the fighting.
Even so, Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains interested in resuming peace talks with Russia despite the ongoing military situation and his doubts about Moscow's willingness to pause hostilities.
By Sabina Mammadli
