Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he anticipates the conflict with Russia will extend into the winter months, following discussions in Kyiv with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The talks concluded without the announcement of a significant breakthrough.
Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner, representing former US President Donald Trump, travelled to Ukraine for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion. Their visit to Kyiv on Sunday followed earlier talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.
Following their meeting with President Zelensky, Mr Witkoff expressed that he was "encouraged" by what he described as "substantive" and important discussions. He added, "We're confident there'll be a good resolution here," and also referenced "a lot of progress in Moscow" from their earlier talks.
President Zelensky underscored Ukraine's desire for a "just peace" that would preclude any opportunity for renewed Russian aggression. He further stressed that should the war continue into winter – a prospect he described as "what it looks like for now" – Ukraine would require substantial air defence capabilities and energy support.
The Ukrainian leader highlighted his country's reliance on American-made Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles. However, he noted that the United States has expended a significant portion of its stockpiles during its ongoing conflict with Iran. President Zelensky indicated that Ukraine needs to develop its own anti-ballistic system, but also stated that Kyiv is "counting on" an increase in American production of these interceptors next year.
Historically, Russia has targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the colder winter months, making robust air defence and energy provision crucial for the country's resilience.
The US envoys' journey to Kyiv involved travelling by train after flying into Poland. President Zelensky informed media that, despite preparations, it was not feasible for their plane to land directly in Ukraine.
During their mission, President Putin and President Zelensky reportedly agreed to a three-day halt on strikes against each other's capitals, allowing the negotiators to conduct their travels and meetings without immediate risk to the respective seats of government. President Zelensky welcomed Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner at Kyiv's historic St Sophia Cathedral.
The location of the welcome was notable, as it was close to where a Russian drone had struck the headquarters of Ukraine's security services just two days prior, on Friday.
Despite the high-level diplomatic efforts, military exchanges continued elsewhere. Overnight, both Russian and Ukrainian forces reported ongoing strikes. Ukraine confirmed that its forces had successfully targeted an oil refinery, an airfield, and two air defence systems.
Earlier reports from Ukraine's Air Force indicated that Russia had launched a significant attack, deploying 108 long-range drones and small cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted 82 drones and six missiles. Nevertheless, 11 locations across the country sustained hits, with debris falling at a further seven sites.
The discussions in Moscow on Saturday, which preceded the Kyiv visit, lasted three hours and were held behind closed doors within the Kremlin, according to reports from Russian state media.
Yuri Ushakov, an adviser to President Putin, characterised the Moscow talks as "constructive, extremely frank." He stated that the discussions covered various topics, including avenues for resolving the ongoing conflict, broader economic issues, and the potential for "mutually beneficial Russian-American projects."
Mr Ushakov also conveyed that "note was made of the Russian army's tangible advances in the combat zone" during the talks. He further indicated an acknowledgment that any future negotiations would need to address "the root causes of the conflict," a long-standing point of contention from Moscow's perspective.
Mr Kushner, reflecting on the Moscow discussions, stated that the US team "went through a lot of the ideas that hadn't worked to date" and "tried to think about" the essential elements required for a "durable peace." He described the dialogue with President Putin as "very good," noting that "he asked a lot of questions, we asked a lot of questions."
Mr Witkoff clarified that the envoys had chosen to meet with the Russian leader prior to their trip to Kyiv because they "needed to hear where he stood."
The diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of intensified aerial attacks by both Russia and Ukraine in recent months. Despite this escalation in missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, Russian ground forces have reportedly made very slow advances throughout much of the conflict, incurring significant casualties. Russia currently maintains control over approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, areas predominantly seized since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The sequence of meetings, first in Moscow and then in Kyiv, underscores the complex and multi-faceted nature of finding a resolution to the conflict. While the envoys expressed optimism, the diverging positions outlined by President Zelensky and President Putin's adviser, particularly regarding the conditions for peace and the "root causes" of the conflict, highlight the significant obstacles that remain.
President Zelensky's emphasis on the need for continued international support, especially for air defence and energy, if the war extends into winter, signals Ukraine's assessment of the protracted nature of the conflict and its ongoing requirements for resilience.
The discussions are seen as a high-stakes attempt by envoys linked to former President Trump to explore potential pathways to peace, even as direct breakthroughs remained elusive at the conclusion of this initial round of talks.
