WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has revived its diplomatic drive to end Russia's war in Ukraine, as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled from Moscow to Kyiv in a high-profile effort to restart negotiations.But after separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the central question remains: Has Moscow changed its position enough to make a settlement possible?Judging by a statement from a top Putin aide, no.Three former US ambassadors to Ukraine interviewed by RFE/RL also said they saw no sign of any concession from the Kremlin.
The weekend marked the first time Witkoff and Kushner traveled to Kyiv together for talks with Zelenskyy, after meeting Putin in Moscow the previous day.Witkoff, who has met Putin eight times, described discussions as constructive and said Washington had heard "new ideas" from Moscow. Kushner said the United States was working on a broader "peace package."Zelenskyy, for his part, called his discussions with the Americans "very substantial" and said Ukraine was prepared to move toward trilateral talks involving Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow. National security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany also joined part of the Kyiv discussions.The diplomatic activity is significant. But the former ambassadors cautioned against confusing movement with progress.
