Kushner: Ukraine unwilling to cede territory, mediators seek 'creative solution'
US presidential envoy Jared Kushner said the territorial issue remains the toughest obstacle to a peace deal on Ukraine, since Kyiv is not ready to make concessions. He noted that other parts of the agreement have already been worked out.
US presidential envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner has said the territorial question remains the central obstacle to reaching a peace agreement over Ukraine. He made the remarks joining via video link the YES Annual Meeting 2026 forum, answering questions from Ukrainian businessman and forum founder Victor Pinchuk.
Kushner said Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear what he wants to achieve, and that if Ukraine were willing to make concessions on this issue, the rest of the agreement would already have been finalized — but Kyiv is currently unwilling to do so. According to him, over the past nine months the US has made progress in talks with Russia and Ukraine on the parts of a deal not directly tied to territorial questions.
Russia's official demands include the transfer of four regions it has declared annexed, as well as Crimea and Sevastopol. Russian officials have hinted that at the Anchorage summit Putin demanded only the Donbas, while agreeing to freeze the front line in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukraine is willing to accept a freeze but opposes ceding territory Russia does not actually control, and refuses to recognize Russian sovereignty over occupied areas.
Kushner expressed confidence the US administration can convince both sides to end the war through economic incentives, saying both countries should focus on using peace to attract investment, create jobs and raise living standards — which he described as the best security guarantee.
Possible talks ahead
It was previously reported that the US had proposed turning Donbas into a demilitarized or specially governed free economic zone. Kyiv is not opposed in principle but insists the arrangement must cover areas currently controlled by both Ukraine and Russia.
Following the Kushner and Steve Witkoff visits to Moscow and Kyiv, discussion has revived around a possible resumption of trilateral talks. The head of Ukraine's presidential office suggested at the same forum that talks could take place in October. Russian officials have repeated that a meeting between the two presidents could only happen in Moscow, while trilateral negotiations could be held in Abu Dhabi, an option the UAE has agreed to.
