- Ukraine
sends high-level delegation to U.S. - Talks
focus on Trump peace plan. - White
House envoy Witkoff to visit Moscow.
The group is en route, according to Ukraine’s presidential
office.
Following the abdication of Ukraine President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff on Friday due to a corruption reproach, Rustem
Umerov, the director of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, will
now lead the Ukrainian delegation.
Along with military, security, and foreign ministry
officers, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, is also
included as a member of the group.
In their most recent meeting, which took place in Geneva
about a week ago, the United States and Ukraine altered the peace plan to make
it more palatable to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy stated on social media on Saturday that he
anticipates entering a briefing from Umerov on Sunday regarding the results of
the accommodations.
He stated that the purpose of the accommodations is to
”
fleetly and substantively work out the way demanded to end the war” and to
insure that the issues of the Geneva conversations held a week ago are”
pounded out.”
In the meantime, Kyiv was the target
of a significant rush that continued into Saturday. Ukraine’s foreign minister
called on the transnational community to put lesser pressure on Russia,
claiming that the attack last night demonstrates Putin’s determination to
continue the conflict despite peace accommodations.
“Putin wants to prolong the war at any cost.
The war he
cannot win — and the war refuses to end. But the international community has
the means to ensure that this cost becomes unbearable for him,”
he said.
“We
urge additional support for Ukraine’s defense and resilience, additional strong
sanctions on Russia, and a swift decision to enable the full use of frozen
Russian assets.”
How might Witkoff’s Moscow visit affect upcoming Geneva
talks?
Steve Witkoff’s Moscow visit beforehand coming week could
make on recent Geneva progress by securing Russian steal- in to the revised 19-
point U.S. peace plan, potentially advancing phased ceasefires and security
guarantees.
Kremlin assistant Yury Ushakov verified a primary agreement
for Witkoff’s trip conceivably including Jared Kushner following blurted calls
where Witkoff counseled Putin on framing the plan appreciatively. Putin has
called the draft a” base for agreements” and defended Witkoff
as” intelligent,” motioning openness that might press Ukraine toward
concessions in forthcoming Geneva rounds.
Russia’s history of stalling apparent in Witkoff’s previous
August 2025 Moscow visits demanding territorial recognition, NATO suspense, and
Ukrainian impartiality could undermine Geneva addresses if Putin rejects core
terms like sovereignty protections.
