© Getty Images Discussions regarding Ukraine have stalled.
Representatives of US President Donald Trump, namely Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are not rushing to visit Kyiv, amidst growing unease in Washington that recommencing involvement in peace negotiations concerning Ukraine may, yet again, fail to produce any actual outcomes, Kyiv Independent reports.
This postponement occurs despite months of internal debate about a potential journey, which would have marked their initial excursion to Ukraine. In contrast, both representatives have already journeyed to Moscow on numerous occasions for dialogues with Vladimir Putin.
“They’ve pledged (to travel to Kyiv) on numerous occasions, but thus far, they haven’t fulfilled this promise,” stated a high-ranking Ukrainian figure acquainted with the circumstances, thereby underscoring the frustration in Kyiv regarding the disproportionate diplomatic engagement.
This discontent was also voiced publicly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky openly critiqued the representatives’ strategy, perceiving their frequent journeys to Russia, without a matching visit to Ukraine, as a demonstration of disrespect.
“It exhibits disregard to journey to Moscow and neglect Kyiv; it’s simply disrespectful,” he stated.
The anticipated visit was intended to represent more than a mere gesture of goodwill. As per one individual familiar with the progress, it was viewed as a catalyst to reactivate tripartite diplomacy involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States during a period when discussions had essentially reached a standstill.
The discussions have been at a standstill for more than sixty days, as Washington’s focus has diverted to the conflict with Iran and the accompanying diplomatic initiatives.
The most recent session of tripartite discussions transpired in mid-February, and the subsequent gathering, slated for late February, was called off shortly preceding the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
According to a pair of sources, Witkoff and Kushner were scheduled to initially arrive in Kyiv, engage with Zelensky, and solely then proceed to Moscow for conversations with Putin.
Presently, a series of elements complicate this potential visit.
At a strategic level, both representatives are heavily invested in the US-Iran dialogues, which continue to dominate Washington’s international policy agenda.
As one official observed, the administration’s emphasis has shifted to such an extent that Ukraine no longer determines the diplomatic blueprint.
In parallel, there are more ordinary, yet nonetheless substantial, impediments tied to wartime conditions. Ever since the initiation of Russia’s comprehensive invasion in 2022, Ukrainian airspace has remained closed, thus rendering rail travel as the sole practical means of accessing Kyiv.
“They encounter their own difficulty in relation to using the train,” one individual mentioned. “It presents a challenge for Witkoff.”
However, logistics independently cannot account for the delay. The underlying rationale is the dearth of advancement in the discussions, along with the potential that the visit will merely accentuate this deadlock.
At the crux of the impasse remains the subject of territories.
Russia insists that Ukrainian forces retreat from Ukrainian-controlled segments of Donbas as a prerequisite for any arrangement. Kyiv dismisses this stipulation, asserting that a freeze on the existing front line constitutes the sole pragmatic groundwork for a ceasefire.
“The Russians maintain that they desire the entirety of Donbas; our stance is that we should identify a viable compromise,” one Ukrainian representative articulated. “Accordingly, it’s uncertain at this juncture why (Trump’s envoys) would embark on such an extensive journey solely to reiterate the identical sentiment.”
These factors appear to be influencing deliberations in Washington significantly. In the absence of novel proposals, the visit runs the hazard of emerging as more symbolic than consequential.
“There exists no purpose as of yet,” the aforementioned Ukrainian representative appended.
A White House official conveyed to the Kyiv Independent that a prospective visit remained under consideration, yet emphasized that “it has not yet been formally scheduled.”
Despite the stagnation in high-level engagements, correspondence between Kyiv and Washington has persisted. Representatives from both factions persist in coordinating via diverse avenues, whilst Ukraine explores avenues to revive the format of cooperation.
As per one Ukrainian representative, Kyiv is presently engaged in “new formats” to invigorate engagement with the United States.
“The circumstances within the US at present are not conducive for them — specifically resulting from the conflict with Iran,” he incorporated.