US Envoys' Visits to Moscow Without Kyiv Draw Criticism
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed that he finds the visits of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow, while excluding Kyiv, to be "disrespectful."
The two envoys traveled to the Russian capital late last year amid advancing ceasefire talks aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine, and made another visit in January. Witkoff, who has visited Moscow eight times and met with Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions, along with Kushner, have never officially visited Kyiv.
"It's disrespectful [for them] to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it's just disrespectful," Zelensky stated in an interview with a Ukrainian media outlet.
"I understand we have complex logistics... If they don't want to, we can meet in other countries," he added.
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate magnate, serves as Donald Trump's special envoy, while Jared Kushner is the US president's son-in-law.
Earlier in April, Zelensky mentioned that the two were planning a visit to Ukraine, but this trip did not occur amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Recent Diplomatic Developments and Ceasefire Talks
The last trilateral summit involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine took place in mid-February. Less than two weeks later, the US and Israel initiated strikes against Iran, shifting international focus away from ending the Ukraine conflict, which has persisted for over four years.
Witkoff and Kushner are currently part of the US delegation traveling to Pakistan for ceasefire discussions with Iran. Zelensky acknowledged the US's attention on the Middle East but emphasized the importance of continued cooperation.
"But... in any case, for us it is important to continue cooperating with the Americans," he said.
Ceasefire negotiations accelerated in autumn 2025 when it became known that Russian and US officials had been collaborating on a plan to end the war in Ukraine. This plan reportedly included terms unfavorable to Kyiv. Ukraine insisted on being involved in the talks, leading to several meetings and summits.
By February, both Moscow and Kyiv announced an agreement on certain "military issues," such as the front line's location and ceasefire monitoring. However, other matters remain unresolved, including Ukraine's demand for the return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported since the war's onset, and Moscow's insistence on a "regime change" in Kyiv.
The most critical issue remains the status of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Moscow's demand for sovereign Ukrainian territory in exchange for ending the war is unacceptable to Kyiv, and neither side has shown willingness to compromise, resulting in a stalemate.
"We are looking for a compromise between two completely polar positions," said Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky's chief of staff, in February. "We have not yet found it."
Ongoing Conflict and Military Actions
The war began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has been a constant reality for Ukrainians for over four years. Large areas of eastern Ukraine remain under Russian control, with Kyiv and Moscow forces engaged in ongoing battles along a long front line stretching from Luhansk in the northeast to Kherson in the south.
Ukrainian cities face regular aerial attacks, with Russia deploying hundreds of drones and missiles that cause civilian casualties and damage infrastructure. On one night last week, Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles in multiple waves, resulting in at least 18 deaths.
Conversely, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure using long-range drones, targeting ports, factories, depots, and oil terminals deep within Russian territory.
According to calculations, at least 20% of Russia's total export capacity was non-operational in early April following these attacks. Despite the energy crisis caused by the war and Iran, Russia has experienced financial gains through increased oil revenue, although its GDP continues to decline.
