Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday (August 31) that Kyiv and Washington are discussing a possible visit to Ukraine by U.S. President Donald Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war remain stalled.
Following a phone call with the two envoys, Zelenskyy described the discussion as “detailed and constructive” and said the U.S. and Ukrainian negotiating teams were working to determine a date for the visit. He said the trip could help develop practical steps toward peace. The teams are also expected to coordinate an agenda and maintain further communication.
During the call, Zelenskyy briefed Witkoff and Kushner on developments on the battlefield and recent Russian airstrikes. He said Russian territorial gains remained limited while coming at the cost of “enormous losses.” Zelenskyy also thanked Trump, his representatives and others in the United States involved in efforts to achieve peace.
The proposed visit follows Zelenskyy’s July 28 meeting with Trump at the White House, where the two discussed strengthening diplomatic efforts and cooperation on Patriot interceptor production. Witkoff and Kushner have since played prominent roles in the Trump administration’s attempts to facilitate negotiations, including direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy, however, said Moscow had yet to demonstrate a willingness to end the war. On Monday (August 31) he stated that intelligence assessments and signals from Russia indicated that Putin still wanted to continue fighting, emphasizing that a successful diplomatic process required the “right mood” in Moscow.
The diplomatic uncertainty comes amid reports of potential further Russian escalation. The Economist, citing sources close to the Kremlin, reported last Sunday (August 30) that Russia was considering sending up to 400,000 additional personnel to the battlefield and potentially expanding hybrid operations. Separately, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on August 25 to assess whether negotiations could be revived.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for the coming winter, with authorities reporting that more than 100,000 residential buildings have been prepared against potential attacks on energy and water infrastructure.
Source: commonspace.eu with Kyiv Post (Kyiv).
