Vitkoff and Kushner are not traveling to Kyiv due to an impasse in the negotiations — media reports
2 May 17:19
Donald Trump’s special envoys, Jared Kushner and Stephen Witkoff, are “in no hurry” to visit Kyiv, as officials in Washington are not convinced that U.S. participation in negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine will yield the desired results. This was reported by The Kyiv Independent, citing sources, as relayed by "Komersant Ukrainian".
“They have promised (to visit Kyiv. — Ed. ) many times, but have not done so yet,” a high-ranking official familiar with the situation told reporters.
The KI article mentions “months of internal discussions about a possible trip,” which would be Kushner and Witkoff’s first visit to Ukraine.
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According to one of the publication’s sources, this visit was intended to “serve as a catalyst” for resuming trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. on ending the war, which “have effectively reached an impasse.” They have been on hold for more than two months because the United States’ attention has shifted to the war in Iran.
What is preventing Kushner and Witkoff’s visit to Kyiv
The Kyiv Independent reports that both of Trump’s special envoys “remain deeply involved in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which continue to dominate Washington’s foreign policy agenda.” At the same time, because Ukrainian airspace has been closed since the start of the war, the negotiators would have to travel by train, which is “difficult for Witkoff,” the source claims.
However, the American side is most concerned that a possible visit would “expose” the deadlock in the negotiations, caused by the inability of Moscow and Kyiv to reach a compromise on the issue of territory, KI continues.
“The Russians insist that they want all of Donbas; our position is to find an acceptable solution. Therefore, it is unclear for now why (Trump’s envoys. – Ed. ) would travel so far just to hear what they have already heard,” the journalists quote their source as saying.
A White House representative told The Kyiv Independent that the visit is still being discussed, but no date has been set. However, communication between Kyiv and Washington has not completely ceased. A Ukrainian official said that his country is looking for “new formats” to boost cooperation with the U.S.
Zelenskyy criticized American negotiators for disrespecting Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Kushner and Witkoff for disrespecting Ukraine.
“It is disrespectful to go to Moscow and not come to Kyiv,” the Ukrainian president said on April 20 in an interview with the state television program “Fakty.”
He emphasized that he understands the difficulties of visiting a country at war, but noted that other politicians do come to Kyiv. “It’s not us who need this, but them,” the president added, referring to a possible visit by the negotiators to the Ukrainian capital. At the same time, he noted that what matters to him is the outcome of the negotiations, not where they take place.
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