Kyiv peace talks rich in symbolism, but core disagreements remain
Talks in Kyiv between US envoys and Ukrainian officials produced hopeful statements but no breakthrough, with fundamental disagreements still separating the sides. Both parties hope to resume trilateral talks including European partners.
Talks held in Kyiv aimed at ending the war in Ukraine were laden with symbolism, though a genuine settlement remains distant, the BBC reports. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, representing President Donald Trump, set foot on Ukrainian soil for the first time since the full-scale invasion began. To reach Kyiv, they had to travel by train to avoid the threat of Russian drone strikes — weapons whose deployment Russian leader Vladimir Putin himself acknowledges.
A meeting place loaded with meaning
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received the American delegation at St. Sophia's Cathedral, a site that embodies Ukraine's historical heritage while standing just metres from a security service building recently struck by a Russian attack. Security advisers from several European countries, including Britain's Jonathan Powell, later joined the discussions. After hours of talks, participants expressed hope for reviving a trilateral format involving both American and European representation.
Conflicting positions
The American envoys arrived in Kyiv directly from Moscow, where Putin claimed Russian forces were making tangible gains on the battlefield. Ukrainian officials offered a contrasting picture, saying more territory had been retaken than lost since August, while Russian casualties had reached 42,000. Putin reportedly told the envoys that resolving the conflict requires Ukraine to cede territory, abandon NATO membership ambitions, and significantly reduce its armed forces. Zelensky, for his part, stressed that Ukraine needs firm security guarantees and a strong military, signalling no intention of surrendering eastern territories.
Witkoff insisted progress had been made and that a deal was achievable, while acknowledging serious disagreements remain and that a path to compromise is currently hard to predict. Kyiv is meanwhile bracing for continued fighting through a difficult winter, with diplomats divided — some see a possible window next spring, others are far more pessimistic. Zelensky thanked the US envoys, noting the brief lull in attacks gave residents much-needed relief, though few expect it to last.
