Kushner Calls Moscow and Kyiv Trips Very Successful

US special envoy Jared Kushner described his recent trips to Moscow and Kyiv as very successful on Friday, September 11, speaking at the annual YES summit in Kyiv. Kushner traveled to both capitals alongside fellow envoy Steve Witkoff last week, and said the visits yielded crucial insight into both sides' positions.

New Framework for Ending the War

Kushner told reporters at the summit that Washington now has a clear understanding of what the next steps need to be. He stressed the importance of establishing a framework before moving to specific negotiations: defining what the objective is and then building conditions for a lasting peace.

The envoy said the US delegation came away with an understanding not only of what could end the war, but of what could lead to durable peace — a distinction he called very, very important.

Trilateral Meeting in the Works

Kushner confirmed that the US is working to organize a trilateral meeting bringing together both sides with American mediators. He noted that face-to-face talks are far more productive than shuttle diplomacy when the goal is a concrete result.

He cautioned, however, that neither side currently has a clear vision of what the desired outcome of the war looks like. Washington's role, he said, is to build trust, listen to both parties, find common ground, and create conditions for agreement.

Earlier, Witkoff said the delegation's goal had been to bring the parties closer together. President Zelensky described the September 6 talks in Kyiv as three rounds of very substantive discussions touching on possible parameters for ending the war and short-term support for Ukraine.