President Volodymyr Zelensky is holding talks with Donald Trump’s top envoys, in their first visit to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian leader greeted Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Kyiv’s St Sophia Cathedral, close to where a Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine’s security services on Friday.
Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to talk about bringing “the end of the war closer”. But he said security guarantees would be required as well as a dignified post-war peace.
On Saturday, the two envoys met Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on ending the war that were described as “frank” and “constructive” by the Kremlin.
The envoys travelled to Kyiv by train after flying to Poland – Zelensky told the media that it was not possible for them to land their plane despite preparations.
Putin and Zelensky agreed to halt strikes on each other’s capitals for three days while the negotiators carry out their trip.
While Witkoff and Kushner were in talks at the Kremlin on Saturday, Zelensky said he and his team were “ready for a substantive conversation”.
On Sunday, Zelensky wrote on social media that his country “has always been and will remain constructive”.
“We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed.
“A dignified character of the postwar peace is needed. Our proposals are ready,” he said.
Overnight, Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange strikes, with Ukraine confirming they struck an oil refinery, an airfield, and two air defence systems.
Credit: bbc.com
