U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys have traveled repeatedly to Moscow for meetings with Vladimir Putin but have yet to make a single visit to Kyiv, despite months of promises, the Kyiv Independent has learned.
The diplomatic imbalance has fueled mounting frustration in Kyiv as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's special envoys for Ukraine peace negotiations, continue to delay their first trip to the Ukrainian capital. According to a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the matter, the hesitation stems from concerns in Washington that renewed engagement may produce no tangible results.
"They've promised (to visit Kyiv) many times, but so far they haven't followed through even once," the Ukrainian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The comment underscores growing Ukrainian unease over what appears to be preferential treatment of Moscow in U.S. diplomatic efforts.
The envoys' repeated visits to the Russian capital stand in stark contrast to their absence from Ukraine. While Witkoff and Kushner have held multiple rounds of discussions with Russian leadership, Ukrainian officials say they have received only vague assurances about a future visit with no concrete dates.
In Ukraine, as across nations defending their sovereignty, resilience is not just survival—it's determination to build a better future. Yet the diplomatic dynamic raises fundamental questions about Ukrainian agency in negotiations over its own territory and future. Ukrainian officials privately worry that conducting talks primarily through Moscow could marginalize Kyiv's position and undermine its negotiating leverage.
The situation reflects broader anxieties in about the Trump administration's approach to ending the war. While Trump has repeatedly promised to negotiate peace quickly, Ukrainian leaders have emphasized that any settlement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
