President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv, marking their first visit to Ukraine since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion. The meeting took place at St. Sophia Cathedral, near the site of a recent Russian drone strike on Ukraine's security services headquarters. Zelensky stated that Ukraine is prepared to discuss measures to expedite the end of the war, emphasizing the need for security guarantees and a dignified post-war peace.
Prior to their meeting with Zelensky, Witkoff and Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where the Kremlin described the discussions as "frank" and "constructive." The envoys traveled to Kyiv by train after flying to Poland, as their plane could not land in Ukraine despite prior arrangements.
Zelensky noted that he and his team were ready for a substantive conversation, expressing Ukraine's commitment to peace and security. He stated on social media that Ukraine has always been and will remain constructive, with proposals ready for discussion.
In the background, Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange strikes, with Ukraine confirming attacks on an oil refinery and an airfield in Russia. Ukraine's defense ministry reported targeting the Ryazan oil refinery, which supplies the Russian military. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 108 long-range drones and small cruise missiles, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting a significant number of them.
The talks in Moscow lasted three hours and were held in private at Putin's official residence. Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov characterized the discussions as constructive, mentioning that they covered economic issues and potential Russian-American projects. Despite ongoing missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, Russian ground forces have made slow progress throughout the conflict, maintaining control over approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory seized in 2022.
The discussions come amid an escalation of aerial attacks from both sides in recent months, with Ukraine focusing on Russian economic infrastructure, particularly oil installations.