United States special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday for discussions aimed at ending Russia's war against the country. This marked the first visit to the Ukrainian capital by the envoys since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.

The meeting occurred just one day after Kushner and Witkoff held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The arrival of the US delegation in Kyiv underscores the ongoing international efforts to find a resolution to the protracted conflict.

President Zelenskyy expressed the importance of the visit, stating, "It is very important that the delegation has arrived to see us. We have been waiting a long time for Steve and Jared, Witkoff and Kushner." He also thanked US President Donald Trump for authorizing their travel amidst the ongoing hostilities. Following the talks, Witkoff described the discussion as "very encouraging" and "substantive, important."

Kushner elaborated on the US objective, stating that President Trump's aim is "not just to figure out how we end the current war, but how do we create the right conditions and arrangements for a long-term, durable peace." The envoys arrived in Kyiv by train from Poland, with hopes of revitalizing peace negotiations after a summer of heightened tensions.

This visit to Kyiv is particularly significant as Kushner and Witkoff had previously visited Moscow eight times but had not yet held talks in the Ukrainian capital. The presence of Ukrainian top security officials, negotiators, and several European national security advisers at the meeting highlighted the collaborative nature of the discussions.

President Zelenskyy shared a video of the meeting, announcing that "Talks have begun." He indicated that the sessions would involve not only the US envoys but also European national security advisers, suggesting a multi-faceted approach to peace discussions. The Ukrainian president noted the expectation of multiple important sessions.

As part of their visit, Zelenskyy reportedly took the US envoys to see the historic Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv. The cathedral is located opposite the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) building, which had been struck by a Russian drone on Friday, underscoring the continued impact of the conflict on the city.

The conflict, described as Europe's worst since World War II, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and displaced millions of people. Previous US-mediated peace talks, encouraged by President Trump, have aimed to de-escalate the situation, but a lasting resolution remains elusive.