Kyiv Waits for US Envoys as Secret Peace Talks Face New Obstacles

Kyiv continues to wait for a visit from US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss paths toward ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle.

First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Kyslytsya made the statement during an interview published on August 20. According to Kyslytsya, the representatives initially promised to arrive on April 1, and repeated their promise on July 28 during a White House meeting attended by Steve Witkoff.

Direct in-person meetings with American diplomats are essential for Kyiv to address sensitive issues that cannot be handled through open or secured communication channels. These discussions cover military, political, economic, and broader global matters.

Despite repeated delays of the visit, diplomatic communication between Ukraine and the United States remains active.

Kyslytsya noted that contact has intensified over the past two and a half months following meaningful conversations between the President of Ukraine and the President of the United States. During these exchanges, Trump addressed significant matters that Kyslytsya indicated he cannot publicly cite.

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At the same time, the resumption of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia appears unlikely in the near future. Kyslytsya stated that Putin currently lacks any desire to negotiate.

He added that Putin's motivation will likely decrease further from the start of winter until its end in mid-March, as Putin expects Ukrainians will not be strong enough as a nation to endure the cold season.

On July 29, 2026, US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner agreed to make their first official visit to Kyiv to advance negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The agreement followed strategic discussions in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had traveled to the United States to attend Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral.

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