Zelensky Meets Trump Envoys Witkoff and Kushner on Peace Deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed strategies to restart peace negotiations with Russia during a Wednesday call with President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The conversation centered on strategies to restart stalled peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Barak Ravid, an Axios correspondent, reported the discussion took place based on information from a source familiar with the call. Zelensky publicly acknowledged the conversation several hours later on social media platform X, emphasizing his government’s commitment to achieving peace.
The Ukrainian leader characterized the exchange as a constructive step toward reinvigorating the diplomatic process. He described it as a worthwhile and significant discussion focused on how to inject fresh momentum into peace efforts and move closer to ending the conflict.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine has consistently maintained its readiness to pursue peace terms that uphold the nation’s sovereignty and dignity. He expressed gratitude to both Witkoff and Kushner for their direct involvement in mediation efforts, while also acknowledging President Trump and the American public for their backing. The Ukrainian president confirmed that negotiating teams from both sides remain in active communication to build on the Wednesday discussion.
The call comes on the heels of the July 8 NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump and Zelensky met in person. During that meeting, the U.S. president announced Washington would grant Ukraine licensing rights to domestically produce Patriot air defense missile systems. Zelensky used the summit to press for additional air defense capabilities and renewed Ukraine’s push for NATO membership. European allies along with Canada have committed approximately 80 billion dollars in defense assistance to Ukraine for the current year.
In the days preceding the Ankara summit, Trump conducted separate telephone conversations with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff and Kushner have indicated their willingness to travel to Moscow if needed to advance mediation efforts.
On the battlefield, Russia’s territorial gains have ground to a halt in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting infrastructure deep within Russian territory have triggered fuel shortages that are beginning to strain Putin’s wartime economy. Russia has responded with sustained missile and drone bombardments against Kyiv and other Ukrainian population centers, attacks that continue to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and claim civilian lives on a near-daily basis.
Putin has maintained his refusal to engage in direct talks with Zelensky unless it is to formalize a finalized agreement, whether such a meeting would occur in Moscow or at a neutral third-country location. The Kremlin continues to insist that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from territories in the Donbas region currently under Ukrainian control as a non-negotiable prerequisite for any peace settlement.
With information from Breitbart
