US officials see fresh progress toward a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict. Washington now hopes to revive trilateral peace talks with Russia and Ukraine.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said the latest diplomatic efforts had produced encouraging developments. He made the remarks during a news conference in Kyiv on Sunday.
Witkoff appeared alongside fellow US envoy Jared Kushner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The officials discussed recent diplomatic contacts involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv.
According to Witkoff, the US delegation carried ideas from its discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kyiv. The proposals are now under consideration by the Ukrainian side.
“We think we made a lot of progress in Moscow. We heard new ideas,” he said.
US pushes for renewed trilateral talks
Witkoff said the next stage could involve a trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. He indicated that an announcement could come soon.
Washington believes direct cooperation between all three parties remains essential for progress. However, Witkoff acknowledged that significant differences still need to be addressed.
“It’s going to take both sides to make some compromises and narrow the issues between them. We think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” he said.
Witkoff described his role alongside Kushner as an effort to bring the conflicting parties closer together. Their objective also includes narrowing disagreements and creating effective communication channels.
The US envoys have spent the previous 48 hours engaging with the parties. Witkoff said those efforts had started on a constructive note.
“We’re committed, we care, and we hope all of that leads to a successful, peaceful, diplomatic resolution,” he said.
The comments reflect Washington’s continued push for diplomacy. At the same time, major differences remain between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff discusses talks with Putin
Witkoff also spoke about the US delegation’s meeting with Putin in Moscow. He said Washington wanted to hear the Russian president’s position directly.
According to Witkoff, the meeting provided the US team with a clearer understanding of Moscow’s position. The delegation then shared the discussion with Zelenskyy and his team.
“We came to see President Putin first. We needed to hear where he stood,” Witkoff said. “We had a good, concrete conversation with him, which we advised President Zelenskyy and his team about.”
Witkoff said Washington remained confident in the diplomatic process. He also stressed the importance of maintaining communication with both Russia and Ukraine.
The US envoy said the Russian side had treated the American delegation respectfully. He suggested that continued communication could help support further diplomatic efforts.
For Washington, maintaining contact with both sides remains central to the current approach. Therefore, the US is seeking ways to reduce differences through direct engagement.
Kushner outlines proposed peace package
Jared Kushner also backed the idea of returning to a trilateral negotiating format. Such talks would bring Russia, Ukraine and the United States together.
Kushner described the format as a possible step toward a broader and lasting peace agreement. He said President Donald Trump had given him and Witkoff a specific diplomatic task.
The two envoys are working on what Kushner called a “peace package.” The proposal aims to address more than simply ending active fighting.
According to Kushner, the broader objective is to establish conditions that could support lasting peace. Therefore, the current diplomatic effort focuses on both immediate and longer-term considerations.
The proposed approach would require continued engagement among the parties. It would also require progress on issues that remain unresolved.
Zelenskyy says territory remains key issue
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukraine, the United States and European countries had agreed to hold another meeting soon.
However, the location of that meeting has not yet been decided. Zelenskyy said several possible locations remain under consideration.
The meeting could take place in Europe, the United States or Ukraine. Further discussions are expected to determine where the next gathering will be held.
Zelenskyy also identified territory as the main unresolved issue in the peace process. He argued that such a major question could only be settled by national leaders.
The territorial dispute remains particularly important for any potential agreement. Therefore, progress on this issue could prove central to future negotiations.
While US officials have expressed optimism, Zelenskyy offered a more cautious assessment of the conflict’s timeline.
Zelenskyy expects war to continue through winter
Zelenskyy said he did not currently expect the war to end before winter. He also warned that the conflict was likely to continue through the winter season.
His comments highlight the gap between Washington’s diplomatic optimism and Kyiv’s assessment of the conflict.
The United States sees an opportunity to advance diplomatic contacts. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to prepare for the possibility of further fighting.
Despite the uncertainty, the latest diplomatic efforts suggest that discussions remain active. The US is attempting to bring Russia and Ukraine closer to renewed negotiations.
Witkoff and Kushner have therefore focused on communication between the parties. Their efforts include narrowing disagreements and identifying areas where compromise might be possible.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to stress the importance of unresolved territorial questions. Zelenskyy believes those questions require decisions at the highest political level.
Ukraine expects more Patriot missile systems
Zelenskyy also said the United States planned to increase Patriot missile production next year.
Ukraine expects to receive additional Patriot systems as part of those plans. The announcement comes as Kyiv continues to focus on its air defence needs.
The issue was raised alongside discussions about diplomacy and the future of the war. Therefore, Ukraine’s security concerns remain closely connected to the broader peace process.
For now, however, the focus remains on diplomatic engagement. Washington wants to revive a trilateral format involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Witkoff said the parties need to make compromises to narrow their differences. Kushner, meanwhile, described the proposed peace package as an effort to create lasting conditions for peace.
Zelenskyy welcomed continued engagement but warned that the war was unlikely to end before or during winter. He also made clear that territory remains the most difficult issue.
The next trilateral meeting could offer a clearer indication of whether the latest diplomatic efforts can produce further progress.
For now, Washington remains hopeful about the process. However, major questions remain before Russia and Ukraine can reach a broader peace agreement.
