Zelensky Discusses Next Steps in Ukraine Ceasefire Push

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he had held a “very positive” conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, praising their readiness to work intensively in the coming weeks on diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Zelensky said he had also discussed with the US officials the prospect of further talks at the forthcoming G7 summit in the French resort of Evian. He stressed that although much of the world’s attention was focused on Iran, peace in Europe remained on the agenda.

US and Ukrainian officials are also discussing a possible visit to Kyiv by Witkoff and Kushner in the coming weeks, according to a source familiar with the matter. It would be the first official visit to Ukraine for the two envoys, who have previously traveled to Moscow for talks with Russia.

The issue of a ceasefire was also raised at a special session of the UN Security Council on Monday, the fifth such meeting on the war in 20 days. Representatives of the EU, the US and China were among those urging continued efforts to reach a ceasefire. UN officials warned that Russia was escalating the scale and intensity of its attacks on major Ukrainian population centers, with at least 30 civilians reported killed and 200 injured since Friday.

Moscow, however, continues to reject Zelensky’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya dismissed the proposal as “rudeness and ultimatums”, saying Moscow sought a real settlement, not “imitation talks”.

(reuters, max)