Zelensky reports ‘positive’ talks with Trump envoys on war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he held “positive” talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about ending the war with Russia, marking a significant shift in diplomatic efforts as the Trump administration takes a more active role in seeking resolution to the conflict.
The conversation, which Zelensky described as constructive, focused on potential pathways to peace and Ukraine’s security guarantees. It’s the first substantial engagement between Kyiv and representatives of the incoming US administration since Trump’s victory in November.
European Leaders Back Putin Meeting
The talks came as several European leaders threw their support behind a proposed direct meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have both indicated they’d facilitate such discussions, though no date has been set.
But Zelensky has insisted any ceasefire must include concrete security guarantees for Ukraine. He’s made clear that he won’t accept a deal that simply freezes current battle lines, which would leave roughly 18 percent of Ukrainian territory under Russian control.
Trump’s Shadow Diplomacy
Witkoff, a real estate investor and longtime Trump associate, and Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, aren’t official government representatives yet. Still, their involvement signals Trump’s intention to pursue a different approach than the Biden administration’s strategy of long-term military support without direct mediation.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war “in 24 hours,” though he hasn’t detailed how. His critics worry he’ll pressure Ukraine into accepting unfavorable terms.
“We’re seeing renewed momentum toward diplomatic solutions,” said a senior European diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. “But the devil is in the details, and Ukraine’s sovereignty cannot be negotiated away.”
War Enters Fourth Year
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Recent months have seen intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Ukraine’s military reported 847 Russian casualties on Sunday alone, though these figures couldn’t be independently verified. Moscow rarely acknowledges its losses.
So far, multiple attempts at negotiations have failed. The last substantive talks collapsed in April 2022, just weeks after the invasion began. And Putin has shown no willingness to withdraw from occupied territories, a key Ukrainian demand.
Whether this latest diplomatic push yields results remains unclear. But with Trump set to take office in January and European support for Ukraine under strain from economic pressures, the coming months could prove decisive for the war’s trajectory.
