Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed reservations about the structure and sincerity of ongoing peace negotiations, even as U.S. envoys prepare for further diplomatic engagements amid stalled talks with Russia, according to a report by KYIV INDEPENDENT.
In an interview aired on April 20 with Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV, Zelenskyy questioned the approach of U.S. representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are expected to meet Ukrainian officials as part of renewed efforts to advance peace discussions.
“I consider their arrival is needed by them, not us… It’s disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it’s just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics… If they don’t want to, we can meet in other countries,” Zelenskyy said in the interview.
Kushner and Witkoff have previously travelled to Moscow on multiple occasions and held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a January 22 visit. While they have engaged Ukrainian officials in earlier meetings, they have yet to visit Kyiv.
The envoys were expected to travel to the Ukrainian capital in April, but Zelenskyy cast uncertainty over the arrangement, stating on April 8 that it was “difficult to say” whether talks would be held in Kyiv or at another location involving all parties.
“We should not make the arrival of Jared and Wikoff some sort of special sensation because, first of all, we are in contact with them,” he said.
“They are in contact (with us) over the phone, and it is over the phone that they express their desire to continue communication and negotiations.”
A previous round of talks involving Witkoff and Kushner took place in Miami on March 22, where they met Ukrainian officials in an attempt to explore possible pathways toward a peace agreement.
Zelenskyy reiterated that the fastest route to ending the war would be a ceasefire along the current front lines, though he noted that Moscow remains unwilling to accept such an arrangement.
“There was a mutual understanding that we want a simple format because all that is complicated is difficult to implement.”
“Let’s first cease fire long term, and this could be the end of the war in the form of combat,” he said.
He further stated that while a sustained ceasefire could open the door to a diplomatic resolution, the Kremlin continues to insist that Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region as a condition for any settlement.
