Washington also urged russia to refrain from shelling Kyiv during the envoys' stay
The US administration has requested Ukrainian authorities to temporarily halt drone strikes on Moscow and russian energy infrastructure. The request was made for the duration of the visit by US special envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv. This was reported by UkrRudProm citing The New York Times, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
In addition to the request to Kyiv, Washington appealed to the russian side, urging them to refrain from conducting strikes on targets in the Ukrainian capital while the US delegation is present. The trip by Witkoff and Kushner marks their first visit to Kyiv since President Donald Trump began his second term.
Preparations for this visit had been underway for several months. The trip’s schedule was adjusted multiple times before the parties finally agreed on the weekend visit. The negotiation process took place amidst a complex climate in bilateral relations and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Diplomatic Efforts and Escalation
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, during a recent trip to Moscow, sought to gauge the potential willingness of the russian leadership for a diplomatic resolution to the war. The talks aimed to determine whether representatives of the russian intelligence services could influence Vladimir Putin’s decisions regarding ending the hostilities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials possess intelligence indicating that the Kremlin is preparing for a significant escalation of the war. This highlights the tense context in which the US envoys’ visit to Ukraine is taking place.
Illustrative photo: Official website of the President of Russia / CC BY 4.0
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