Kushner: Ukraine Yielding to Putin's Territorial Demands Is Only Obstacle to War Deal

US Special Envoy Jared Kushner made a striking statement at the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) Forum in Kyiv on September 12, saying a framework for ending the war is essentially ready and that Ukraine's refusal to cede occupied territories to Russia is the sole remaining obstacle.

Kushner's statement at YES Forum

Speaking via video link, Kushner said Washington has already assembled the core elements of a peace agreement. President Putin has drawn his line of what he wants to achieve. If Ukraine wanted to move to that line, we would already have the rest of the deal assembled. But Ukraine does not want to do that right now. Our job as mediators is to find a creative solution, Kushner said.

Ukraine rejects the framing

Ukraine has consistently refused to recognize Russia's annexation of any Ukrainian territory and repeatedly stated it will not negotiate a settlement legitimizing territorial losses. President Zelensky said separately that the war's outcome would be determined by military realities, not imposed compromises.

Kushner's public pressure on Kyiv reflects the Trump administration's approach of conditioning US support on Ukraine's willingness to enter direct talks with Moscow on terms favorable to Russia. The statement drew immediate attention at the forum and across diplomatic circles.