US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated following the talks in Kyiv that Washington is striving for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine and expects a near-term announcement of the start of trilateral negotiations involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine. Witkoff emphasized that the American delegation brought important ideas to the Ukrainian capital that had previously been discussed during a visit to Moscow, and that Washington's representatives have already heard Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's position on possible trilateral contacts.
Trilateral format: what is known about the talks
“We heard Mr. Zelensky and his views on trilateral negotiations. We hope they will be announced soon. All the important ideas we discussed in Moscow, we brought here to Kyiv,” Witkoff said at a press conference. According to him, it is fundamentally important for the American side to act together with its partners, which is why representatives of European countries were also present in Kyiv during the talks. The special envoy underscored that finding a diplomatic solution is a complex task that will require concessions from all parties involved.
Compromises and Washington's “tools”
“Both sides will have to make compromises. I think we have all the tools for that. Of course, solving such problems is not easy, but we are striving for it and hope that it will lead to a successful, peaceful, and diplomatic resolution,” Witkoff added. Thus, the American side openly acknowledges that neither side will be able to fully maintain its original position, and frames the diplomatic settlement as a process of mutual concessions rather than unilateral pressure.
Kyiv's position: Donbas remains the key issue
During the talks on September 6, the Ukrainian side raised the issue of the Donbas, which, in Kyiv's view, remains central to the entire war. Ukrainian negotiators stress that Ukraine's strong position on the battlefield is a decisive factor in achieving a just peace. This statement confirms that, despite its readiness for diplomatic dialogue, Kyiv does not intend to abandon its territorial demands and ties their resolution to the military balance of power.
Winter scenario: support and security guarantees
Following three rounds of negotiations, it became clear that the war may continue into the winter period. In this regard, Ukraine discussed with its partners a package of additional support for the winter season, as well as specific steps toward providing security guarantees and bringing an end to hostilities. This fact indicates that, even amid active diplomatic efforts, the parties are building into their strategy a scenario of the conflict's continuation, making the diplomatic track parallel to, rather than an alternative to, the military one.
Contradictory data
The provided sources show differences in emphasis regarding the composition of the American delegation. The main text of the press conference quotes only Steve Witkoff as the speaker, while a number of publications (including TSN and Ulysmedia) indicate that Jared Kushner also participated in the talks, and that their joint visit to Moscow and Kyiv is seen as the implementation of a single “plan to end the war,” the details of which Donald Trump had previously disclosed. At the same time, Kushner is not mentioned in Witkoff's quotes at the Kyiv press conference, which may indicate a division of public roles within the delegation or that some of the agreements remain in a closed format.
