Despite Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner having delivered 'upbeat assessments' (per AFP) to Kiev after meeting with President Putin in Moscow over the weekend, Ukrainian President Zelensky has told his citizenry to prepare for a brutal winter, as the war is set to continue through this period.
A senior Ukrainian presidential official said Sunday that the US team brought new, "more effective" proposals for ending the war. "It's not the same as it was before. This one now is more effective. They're still talking. This is actually the most important part," the official said to AFP.
AFP via Getty ImagesThis marked Witkoff-Kushner's first trip to Kiev - as they've been playing point for Trump efforts at negotiating the end to conflicts from the Middle East to Gaza to Eastern Europe. However, many have pointed out they are un-elected, not formally appointed, and hold no official government offices - and do not have prior track records as high level diplomats.
Zelensky after being briefed on US talks with Putin remarked: "We very much hope that we will be able to reach agreements with our American partners, and we are counting on the support of our European partners if the war continues in winter — and this is how it appears at the moment."
This comes after the Kremlin reportedly told Americans Saturday it was feeling "confident" its forces would advance more, deeper into Ukraine from eastern territories that Russia already holds.
Kushner said: "Hop
