Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that he spoke for about an hour with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The discussion focused on ways to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy described the exchange as constructive and forward-looking. He shared details of the conversation in a message on Telegram.
“It was a really good conversation: many details, good ideas, that we discussed. There are some new ideas on how to bring the real peace closer, and it concerns formats, meetings, and, certainly, the timeline,” Zelenskyy said.
Trump pushes peace talks forward
Meanwhile, Trump has continued to press for a deal to end the war, which has lasted nearly four years. In recent weeks, peace efforts led by Witkoff and Kushner have made gradual progress.
These talks mark a renewed push by Washington to bring both sides closer to negotiations, even though major differences remain.
Ukraine presents 20-point peace plan
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy unveiled a 20-point draft peace plan. He described it as the main framework for ending the conflict.
This proposal is a revised version of an earlier 28-point plan that the US had discussed with Russia. That earlier draft was widely seen as favoring Moscow, as it called on Ukraine to give up territory and accept limits on its military.
In contrast, the new 20-point plan removes several controversial elements. However, Zelenskyy said that major territorial issues are still unresolved.
Key issues still unresolved
Zelenskyy stressed that some of the most sensitive questions cannot be settled without direct talks with Trump. He said a meeting with the US president would be necessary to resolve these matters.
At the same time, the Kremlin said it is reviewing the proposals. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow is analyzing documents on ending the war. Russia’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev brought these papers to Moscow from the United States.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More talks planned with US negotiators
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, planned to speak again with US negotiators later in the day.
“We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable,” Zelenskyy said.
Reports of disagreement inside US administration
Earlier this week, NBC News reported tensions between Steve Witkoff and the US State Department. According to the report, Witkoff appeared to be at odds with senior officials.
In November, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to attend peace talks with Ukrainian officials in Switzerland. However, Witkoff reportedly left early. This move led some officials to believe he was trying to outmaneuver Rubio.
The report also said Witkoff did not inform Rubio or other State Department officials about his travel plans. Some sources viewed this as an attempt to negotiate directly with Ukraine without broader coordination.
Peace efforts continue despite hurdles
Despite these internal disagreements and unresolved issues, talks between Ukraine and the US continue. Both sides say they remain focused on finding a realistic path toward ending the war and securing lasting peace.