Zelenskyy Reveals Talks with Trump Envoys Covered Winter Package, Territories, Security Guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed the substance of two rounds of talks with US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, confirming that discussions touched on a “winter package”, territorial questions and post-war security guarantees. The disclosure, made on 6 September, comes after the envoys completed their first-ever visit to Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

“We have been waiting a long time for Steve and Jared, Witkoff and Kushner,” Zelenskyy said in a video released from central Kyiv, thanking US President Donald Trump for authorising the trip despite the ongoing war. The Ukrainian leader added that a third round of talks is expected, though he did not specify a date (Source: Al Jazeera).

What the Talks Covered

According to Zelenskyy’s subsequent remarks, the agenda included a “winter package” – likely a reference to military and energy aid needed to withstand the coming cold months – as well as the status of occupied territories and the framework for long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. The president’s office did not release a detailed readout, but the three areas represent the core of any potential ceasefire or peace deal (Source: Ukrainska Pravda).

Kushner, the US special envoy, struck a cautious note. “There is no guarantee the war will end by winter, but the United States is working towards it,” he told reporters after the meeting (Source: Ukrainska Pravda). His colleague Witkoff described the encounter as “substantive, important” and said the US team was “very encouraged” by the discussion (Source: Al Jazeera).

A Diplomatic First

The envoys’ arrival in Kyiv marked a significant shift in US engagement. Having visited Moscow eight times since the start of the Trump administration, Kushner and Witkoff had never before held talks in Ukraine’s capital. They travelled from Poland by train, a journey that underscores the continued risk of air travel due to Russian missile strikes. Before Kyiv, the pair met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 5 September (Source: Al Jazeera).

Zelenskyy emphasised that European national security advisers would also participate in some sessions. “We are expecting one session of our talks, and then another session will be held with the European NSAs,” he said, indicating that the US-led initiative is being coordinated with key allies (Source: Al Jazeera).

What the US Wants

Witkoff later outlined the US objectives: to “understand the positions of both sides, identify common ground, and work towards a framework that can stop the fighting and create conditions for a durable peace.” He said the talks in Kyiv were a necessary step to test whether Ukraine’s leadership is ready to move beyond its maximalist positions (Source: Ukrainska Pravda).

Kushner echoed that sentiment, stating that Trump wants “not just to figure out how we end the current war, but how do we create the right conditions and arrangements for a long-term, durable peace” (Source: Al Jazeera).

Why It Matters

This is the highest-level US delegation to visit Kyiv since the invasion, and the first time Trump envoys have engaged directly with Zelenskyy on the ground. The focus on a “winter package” suggests Washington is aware of the urgent need to keep Ukraine’s energy grid and military supplied through the harsh months ahead. At the same time, the discussion of territories and security guarantees signals that the US is pushing for a negotiated settlement – a goal that remains deeply controversial in Kyiv, where many fear any territorial concessions will only encourage further Russian aggression.

With a third round of talks expected, the diplomatic clock is ticking. Winter is coming, and both sides are calculating their next moves.