Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the importance of forthcoming meetings with representatives of former President Donald Trump, which are set to occur in both Kyiv and Moscow. According to Zelensky, the American side has confirmed these meetings, with preparations already underway.
During a briefing, Zelensky stated, “I just held a meeting with the team handling negotiations with representatives of the American president. We are in constant communication 24/7 and are currently preparing for meetings. There are preliminary dates, and we expect to see representatives of the American president here in Kyiv. They confirmed there will be a meeting in Moscow as well as in Kyiv, and we anticipate this will happen in the coming days. This is very important; it is essential for America to remain active.”
Zelensky noted that Ukraine is ready for substantive discussions with Trump’s representatives in Kyiv. While he did not specify who would be visiting, it is believed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner may be involved. Reports indicate that they are likely to visit both Kyiv and Moscow to discuss the ongoing war and potential peace negotiations. This visit to Kyiv would be their first, although both Witkoff and Kushner have previously visited Moscow.
- Initial timelines for Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to Kyiv were suggested to be in the spring or summer, but they did not arrive as planned.
- On July 30, Radio Free Europe correspondent Alex Raufogl reported that Trump’s special representatives might visit the Ukrainian capital during Independence Day celebrations on August 24, participating in events marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. However, later Russian propaganda sources mentioned mid-August instead.
