Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his Telegram channel that he had a phone call with special representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The head of state described the conversation as "detailed and constructive," noting that the key item on the agenda was setting a specific date for the first trip of the American envoys to Kyiv. "Right now we are talking about determining the date of the visit to Ukraine. This trip would be very useful for developing solutions toward peace," Zelensky emphasized in his statement.

Details of the phone call and further communication

According to the Ukrainian president, Witkoff and Kushner "know many details" of the negotiation track, and the teams on both sides will remain in contact to work through the agenda and determine the most convenient schedule for further communication. Zelensky also expressed his gratitude to Donald Trump, his envoys, and everyone in the United States who is working toward achieving peace in Ukraine. The president's wording suggests that the conversation was substantive rather than merely formal or protocol-driven, with concrete steps to synchronize the working groups.

Context: visit postponed amid escalating combat operations

As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, the planned visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine had already been postponed. The trip was not canceled, but its timing changed against the backdrop of intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. Initially, the visit could potentially have taken place in early or mid-August 2026. The Ukrainian side had stated its readiness for any format of negotiations capable of bringing a just and lasting peace, and the question of negotiations, according to Zelensky, was discussed at a special meeting at the Mykhailo Hrushevsky Street residence (Bankova).

Contradictory data

While Zelensky and a number of Ukrainian media outlets (RBC-Ukraine, Obozrevatel) confirm active work on determining the date of the visit and describe the process as moving forward, the outlet glavred.info publishes an article titled "Trump's special envoys Witkoff and Kushner will not come to Ukraine: what is the reason," which directly contradicts the tone of the president's statement. The difference in interpretation may be linked to the fact that, on the one hand, a specific date for the trip had not yet been fixed at the time the statements were published, while, on the other, the Ukrainian side emphasizes that the process has not been halted. Thus, one set of sources records the fact of the postponement and the absence of a confirmed schedule, while another interprets this as a signal of a possible cancellation. As of the time of publication, no official confirmation of cancellation from Washington had been received.

What this means for the negotiation track

Zelensky's confirmation of a "constructive" conversation with two key figures in the Trump administration — the special envoy for peace issues and the president's son-in-law — indicates that the diplomatic channel between Kyiv and Washington remains active, despite the escalation at the front. The fact that the discussion is focused on determining a date rather than on principles suggests that the framework agreements were likely reached earlier. The next logical step will be the publication of a specific schedule for the visit and a list of topics to be put on the agenda for bilateral consultations in Kyiv.