Ukraine says fresh proposals brought by US envoys to Kyiv could offer a more effective path toward ending the war with Russia, as Washington continues its shuttle diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow.
Senior Ukrainian officials said discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were continuing with President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing the latest proposals as more meaningful and effective than previous efforts.
“It’s not the same as it was before,” a senior Ukrainian presidential official told AFP. “This one now is more effective. They’re still talking. This is actually the most important part.”
The comments came after Witkoff and Kushner travelled to Kyiv following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Their visit marked their first trip to the Ukrainian capital, a city that has faced repeated Russian attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Hope for peace, but no breakthrough yet
Zelensky has welcomed the renewed American diplomatic effort but remains cautious about how quickly the war can end.
Earlier, he warned that the conflict appeared increasingly likely to continue through the winter. While the latest discussions have generated more optimism among American and Ukrainian officials, no major breakthrough or final agreement has been announced.
“We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners,” Zelensky said, while also stressing the importance of continued European support if the fighting continues.
He said Ukraine would also hold discussions involving the United States, France and Germany.
For Zelensky, however, some of the most difficult questions surrounding the war remain unresolved. He has repeatedly argued that territorial issues ultimately require direct negotiations between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.
On social media, Zelensky thanked the American representatives for travelling to Kyiv and emphasized what Ukraine ultimately wants from the diplomatic process: peace that is secure and lasting.
The message is clear: Ukraine is willing to keep talking, but it wants any eventual settlement to provide more than a temporary pause in fighting.
Washington pushes for a path forward
Witkoff and Kushner arrived in the region as the Trump administration seeks to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II.
The discussions come after months of continued fighting and escalating Russian attacks.
Witkoff said negotiations would require compromises from both sides and described the discussions as meaningful and substantive.
“We think we have the ingredients to get to that place,” he said, expressing encouragement about continuing the diplomatic process.
Kushner also suggested that the latest meetings had produced new ideas that could potentially help move negotiations forward.
The White House said the envoys had discussed substantive plans in Moscow that could be announced in the coming weeks.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, said the American delegation had presented several ideas concerning possible ways toward a settlement.
Despite those developments, fundamental disagreements remain.
Territorial disputes remain at the centre
Russia currently controls significant areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. Moscow has also demanded recognition of territories it claims as Russian, a position firmly rejected by Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow intends to pursue its territorial objectives in Ukraine.
That makes the question of territory one of the biggest obstacles to any potential peace agreement.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to insist that its sovereignty and territorial integrity must be protected.
The diplomatic challenge is therefore enormous: Washington is attempting to bring the sides closer together while Kyiv and Moscow remain far apart on some of the most important terms of a possible settlement.
Europe remains closely involved
European countries are also playing a role in the continuing diplomatic efforts.
Representatives from Britain, France and Germany participated in a separate round of discussions, with Zelensky welcoming their involvement.
“Here we are all on the same side,” he said, highlighting the importance of European backing as negotiations continue.
The presence of European representatives reflects the broader international stakes surrounding the conflict. Any eventual agreement could have consequences extending far beyond Ukraine and Russia, affecting European security, global diplomacy and the future relationship between Moscow and Western governments.
Kyiv remains cautious
While officials involved in the negotiations have expressed cautious optimism, people living in Kyiv appear far less convinced that a breakthrough is close.
For many Ukrainians, years of negotiations have been accompanied by continued attacks, loss of life and displacement.
Nataliia Lipekh, 67, said the American representatives needed to see the reality of the war firsthand and understand how deeply the conflict has affected Ukraine.
But optimism remains difficult for many.
Yaroslav, 29, said he had watched too many negotiation efforts unfold without bringing the war to an end.
His reaction reflects a broader feeling among many Ukrainians: diplomatic meetings may offer hope, but people living through the war ultimately judge progress by what happens on the ground.
Fighting continues despite diplomatic efforts
The diplomatic discussions have not stopped the fighting.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 108 drones and missiles overnight, while Moscow said it had destroyed 258 Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine also reported that Russian strikes on Saturday killed 10 people, including an 11-year-old boy.
The figures underline the difficult reality facing negotiators. While diplomats continue to search for a possible settlement, civilians and military personnel remain exposed to the consequences of the conflict.
Ukraine and Russia had pledged not to target each other’s capitals during the visit by the American envoys, but fighting continued in other parts of the country.
A long road toward peace
The latest diplomatic push offers a new reason for cautious attention, but it is too early to say whether it will produce a lasting peace agreement.
The fact that American officials are travelling between Moscow and Kyiv and presenting new proposals shows that negotiations remain active. Ukraine says the latest ideas are more effective, while Russia has acknowledged that Washington presented possible routes toward a settlement.
But the biggest questions — especially territory, security guarantees and the terms of a lasting peace — remain unresolved.
For millions of people affected by the war, the hope is simple: that diplomatic conversations eventually become more than meetings and statements, and finally lead to an end to the violence.
For now, the talks continue.
And while there is no breakthrough yet, every serious attempt at diplomacy matters when the alternative is another winter of war.
Source: AFP
