Zelensky insists peace talks with Russia must take place at leaders' level after meeting with US envoys in Kiev

After receiving Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, envoys from the United States, this Sunday (6) in Kiev, the president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, once again insisted that the most sensitive negotiation issues, such as the territorial dispute, can only be resolved at "leader level".

The speech represents a new request for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Zelenski classified this Sunday's conversation as positive, but admitted that, "for now", the conflict should last for another European winter.

The meeting took place one day after Witkoff, Donald Trump's partner, and Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also met with Putin in the Kremlin to discuss the end of more than four years of war between the countries. They had already visited Moscow eight times, but had not yet held talks in the Ukrainian capital.

The city has been the target of Russian attacks since the invasion began in February 2022. To allow negotiations to take place, Russia and Ukraine promised not to attack their respective capitals for three days.

Donald Trump's two envoys arrived in Kiev by train, as airspace has been closed since the start of the conflict. The expectation was to resume negotiations to end the worst conflict in Europe since the Second World War, after a period of intensified fighting.

Witkoff said the meeting was "significant, substantial, important" and urged Russia and Ukraine to make concessions to find a solution to end the conflict. "Both parties will have to make concessions and reduce their differences, and we believe we have the necessary elements to achieve this," he said.

Kushner said he hoped "this trip opened up new paths forward."

After the conversation with the Ukrainian president, there was a second meeting with the American delegation, Ukrainian authorities and security representatives from the United Kingdom, France and Germany — the so-called E3 of Europe. "We are grateful that the Europeans are here with us today," said Zelenski.

Witkoff and Kushner met with Putin on Saturday (5) to "advance President Trump's peace agenda for the war between Russia and Ukraine," according to a White House statement.

"The two parties discussed concrete plans for the next steps, which will be announced in the coming weeks, and look forward to equally productive meetings tomorrow in Ukraine," the Trump administration's statement said.

The Kremlin's diplomatic advisor, Yuri Uchakov, classified the talks as "extremely frank" and stated that the Americans "presented a series of ideas on possible paths to an agreement", without detailing the proposals. Uchakov also said the Russians said they were "confident" they could achieve their military objectives and take the rest of eastern Ukraine.

On Saturday, Putin thanked Trump for persisting in his efforts to end the war, even though the task was "not simple." The American president said on Friday (4) that his envoys were bringing a "proposal" to end the fighting. "We have an idea for peace," he said, without giving details.

So far, U.S. efforts have not produced a breakthrough in the war, and peace initiatives have stalled, in part, due to Washington and Israel's war with Iran since February.

Russia occupies large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, and Putin insists that Moscow intends to seize the rest of the territory in the east.

Moscow and Kiev pledged to suspend attacks on capitals during negotiations. Fighting, however, continued in other regions. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 108 drones and missiles overnight. Moscow, for its part, said it had shot down 258 drones.

Kiev said Russian attacks killed ten people in different regions of the country, including a child and family members in the Kharkiv region. Two other people died on the outskirts of the capital.