The peace talks held in Kyiv featured significant symbolism, marked by the presence of Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who visited Ukraine for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion. They traveled by train to avoid potential risks from Russian drones, which were launched under the orders of President Vladimir Putin, with whom they had met just hours prior. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greeted the envoys at Saint Sophia Cathedral, a historic site located near where Russian drones recently struck the headquarters of Ukraine's security services.
The discussions lasted several hours and included European national security advisers, such as the UK's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell. Following the talks, participants expressed optimism about the discussions, mentioning the possibility of reviving previous trilateral talks involving the US and Europe.
However, fundamental differences between the two sides persist. The US envoys had just come from Moscow, where Putin claimed that Russia was making "tangible advances" on the battlefield. In contrast, Ukrainian officials reported that they had gained more territory than they lost in August and cited Russian casualties of 42,000, both dead and wounded.
Putin emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict, which he interprets as Ukraine ceding territory, abandoning its NATO aspirations, and reducing its military size. Zelensky stated that Ukraine requires "strong and clear" security guarantees and showed no willingness to relinquish territory in the eastern Donbas region, describing the situation as "difficult."
Witkoff acknowledged that while progress had been made, both sides would need to compromise to bridge their differences, a prospect that currently seems unlikely. The expectation in Kyiv is that fighting will continue, leading to a challenging winter. Some diplomats suggest a potential opportunity for a settlement in the spring, while others remain skeptical.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to the US envoys for their visit, noting that a temporary pause in airstrikes agreed upon by both sides had provided a brief respite for Kyiv's residents, although few anticipate its longevity.