Kushner and Witkoff in Ukraine

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, envoys of President Trump, have visited Ukraine's capital Kyiv, with the aim of restarting peace talks with Russia. According to NPR, this is their first official visit to Ukraine during wartime, and it comes after talks with Putin in Moscow.

Background to the Visit

The visit did not produce a breakthrough, but it gave Ukrainians in Kyiv a temporary reprieve from near-constant Russian attacks. Kushner and Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and all three men stated that the talks were substantive, with new ideas presented, although they did not offer any details.

Peace Talks Stall

Peace talks have stalled due to the White House being occupied with the situation in Iran since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February. However, a member of Ukraine's negotiating team told NPR that the Ukrainians never stopped communicating with Trump's team, and occasionally with Russian representatives. Despite this, the two sides remain far apart on important issues, such as territory.

Territory Issue

Russia has pushed for Ukraine to give up land it still controls in exchange for a peace deal, but public opinion polls show that most Ukrainians strongly oppose this. Zelenskyy discussed the territory issue with Kushner and Witkoff, stating that this sensitive issue can only be handled by leaders, including himself, Vladimir Putin, and possibly Trump and European leaders.

Impact of the Visit

For Zelenskyy, the symbolism of Trump's envoys visiting Kyiv mattered, as it was their first-ever wartime trip to Ukraine. The visit also meant that Russia would not dare bomb the city while Kushner and Witkoff were present. Zelenskyy stated that having Trump's representatives in Kyiv did more to protect the city than any Patriot air defense system, and he asked them to visit more often so that the Ukrainian people can live a little.

Details of the Visit

Kushner and Witkoff traveled to Kyiv on a train dubbed the Peace Express, which Witkoff compared to taking the train to visit his grandmother in Florida. The visit was seen as a significant gesture, and Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the visit, which he believed helped to protect the city from Russian attacks. As NPR's Joanna Kakissis reported, the visit was a rare moment of calm in a city that has been under constant attack, and it is not yet clear whether it will lead to any progress in the peace talks.