US envoys arrive in Kyiv for Ukraine war talks after meeting Putin - Al Jazeera

**U.S. Envoys Arrive in Kyiv for Ukraine War Talks After Meeting Putin**

Washington sent a senior delegation to Kyiv on Tuesday, marking the first visit by the team since President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. officials in Moscow earlier this week. The group, led by former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and senior adviser Matthew Witkoff, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his foreign‑policy team to discuss a possible diplomatic pathway to end the two‑year‑long conflict. Their trip follows a brief, high‑level discussion with Putin that Reuters described as “useful,” though the Kremlin admitted it did not produce a breakthrough on the war’s core issues.

During the Kyiv meetings, Kushner and Witkoff emphasized Washington’s renewed push for a trilateral framework that would bring Russia, Ukraine and the United States together for direct talks. CNN reported that Witkoff expressed confidence that the talks could lead to a “good resolution,” while the U.S. State Department underscored its commitment to a “comprehensive and durable peace.” The Kremlin, however, remained cautious; a Kremlin spokesperson told Reuters that the dialogue was constructive but that “no sign of a breakthrough” had emerged. The BBC noted that the visit carried strong symbolic weight, showcasing U.S. willingness to engage directly with Kyiv after the Russian‑Ukrainian leaders had recently spoken.

Ukrainian officials welcomed the delegation as a sign of continued Western support, but they also warned that substantive progress would require concrete concessions from Moscow on issues such as the withdrawal of Russian forces and the status of occupied territories. Analysts cited by The Guardian said the talks are likely to be “rich in symbolism” but that deep‑seated differences—particularly Russia’s demand for security guarantees and Ukraine’s insistence on sovereignty—remain unresolved. As diplomatic channels reopen, the next steps will hinge on whether the proposed trilateral format can move beyond rhetoric to deliver actionable terms that satisfy both Kyiv and Moscow.