Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that the war with Russia is likely to drag on into the winter months, a sober assessment delivered after a day of talks in Kyiv with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Speaking to reporters in the Ukrainian capital, Zelenskyy said: "We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter -- and this is how it appears at the moment."
The visit by Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and Witkoff, a Trump business ally, marked their first trip to Kyiv. They arrived by train from Poland, as Ukraine's airspace has remained closed since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The platform at Kyiv Central Station was decorated with the words "Peace Express."
Zelenskyy noted that "everything" had been prepared to make Ukrainian airports operational again, but Russian strikes had ruled out that option. Both Moscow and Kyiv had agreed not to target each other's capitals during the envoys' visit, a fragile courtesy that underscored the tense atmosphere.
No breakthrough, but "ingredients" for a deal
After the talks, Witkoff struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying: "We think we have the ingredients to get to that place." He described the discussions as "very meaningful, substantive, important," and said the US side was "very encouraged" and looked forward to continuing the process "as long as it takes."
Kushner echoed that sentiment, saying: "Hopefully this trip has come out with some new ways to advance forward. I think we've learned a lot from the trip."
However, neither envoy announced any concrete steps toward ending the conflict. Witkoff had earlier stressed that compromise would be required from both sides, a point that has been a recurring theme in Washington's approach to the war.
The US delegation had flown to Moscow the previous day for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A White House official said the envoys had "discussed substantive plans which will be announced in the coming weeks," while the Kremlin confirmed that the Americans had "put forward a number of ideas on possible routes to a settlement," without offering details.
European partners remain central
Zelenskyy said that further discussions with British, German, and French representatives were still ongoing. Earlier in the day, he had indicated that a separate session with European national security advisors would follow the US talks. "Here we are all on the same side," he said, expressing gratitude for the presence of European partners.
The Ukrainian president's remarks highlight the delicate balance Kyiv must strike: maintaining strong ties with Washington while ensuring that European allies remain fully engaged. With winter approaching, the humanitarian and military costs of a prolonged conflict are likely to rise, making the support of both the United States and the European Union all the more critical.
The visit comes amid a broader diplomatic push, as US envoys have been shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv in search of a ceasefire framework. The lack of a breakthrough in Kyiv suggests that a negotiated settlement remains distant, and that the war may indeed stretch into another winter.
For European capitals, the prospect of a prolonged conflict raises pressing questions about energy security, refugee flows, and the continent's own defense readiness. As the EU continues to grapple with these challenges, the coming months will test the bloc's resolve to stand by Ukraine.
