U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son‑in‑law of former President Donald Trump, have canceled a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Europe, according to media reports. The meeting was expected to follow Witkoff’s high‑stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Zelensky had previously said he was awaiting “signals” from the U.S. delegation about a peace plan for Ukraine and had expressed hope that, if the Kremlin talks proved successful, he could soon meet President Trump. However, the president has refused to meet either Zelensky or Putin until a peace deal is close to completion.
The cancellation comes after a five‑hour Russia‑U.S. discussion at the Kremlin, which Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described as “useful, constructive, and meaningful.” Despite the positive tone, Ushakov added that “a compromise hasn’t been found” and “there’s still a lot of work to be done.” The negotiations centered on a U.S.–backed peace framework that reportedly requires Kyiv to cede territory in the Donbas, abandon its NATO ambitions, and limit the size of its military. The plan has been under discussion since a 28‑point draft was leaked last month, but Kyiv has resisted several provisions, calling them deal‑breakers.
The scrapped meeting between Witkoff, Kushner and Zelensky raises questions about the future of the peace talks and the possibility of a direct encounter between Zelensky and President Trump. The development is significant because it occurs at a critical juncture in the Russia‑Ukraine negotiations. The international community is watching the process closely, and the cancellation may signal a setback. As events unfold, it remains uncertain how the parties will proceed and whether a peaceful resolution can ultimately be achieved.
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