- 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.