WASHINGTON DC – US officials say Washington’s quiet diplomacy on Ukraine has entered an accelerated phase, with Special Envoy for Peace Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner holding their sixth meeting in two weeks with Ukrainian security chief Rustem Umerov and top general Andriy Hnatov – a tempo that senior diplomats privately describe as “unusual” and “intentional.”
According to a US readout released by the State Department Friday evening, the discussions focused on a “credible pathway toward a durable and just peace,” including Ukrainian security guarantees, deterrence capabilities, and the status of recent US-Russia contacts.
The US and Ukrainian sides also reviewed long-term reconstruction plans and joint economic initiatives – a sign Washington wants post-war strategy baked into any settlement framework.
A US official, speaking to Kyiv Post on background, said the Trump administration is “trying to build a corridor where a real negotiation could someday exist – even if Moscow isn’t ready yet.”
Another Western European diplomat was blunter: “Everyone knows the bottleneck is the Kremlin. The question is whether Washington is prepared to force the issue.”
Umerov, per the US readout, reiterated Kyiv’s core red lines: preserving sovereignty, ensuring civilian safety, and securing a security architecture strong enough to prevent a second invasion.
He also signaled openness to further US proposals – something Western officials say reflects Kyiv’s urgency as battlefield pressure grows.
The talks also touched on “recent meetings of the American side with the Russians,” though US officials have not elaborated.
One Western official familiar with those contacts told Kyiv Post earlier that the conversations were “exploratory, not transactional,” adding that “no one is discussing territorial concessions.”
‘Either Russia stops the killing or…’
Doug Klain of Razom, a US-based organization advocating for Ukraine’s interests, told Kyiv Post there is “some cause for optimism,” noting the density of the meetings and the explicit acknowledgment in the US statement that Russia is the determining factor for any agreement.
“Six meetings in two weeks between the US and Ukraine is a big deal, and it is clear that Ukraine wants to come to an agreement,” Klain said. “It’s a big deal that in the US statement there’s an acknowledgement that both parties agree any agreement depends on Russia – Ukraine’s been clear that it isn’t the obstacle to peace.”
Klain added that if a peace deal is to succeed, action must come from “either the United States or Russia.”
“Either Russia stops the killing or the United States understands Moscow is the problem, not an ally, and pressures the Kremlin on the battlefield and in its coffers,” he said. “We know the Ukrainians want to stop fighting, but they aren’t about to lay down their arms and let the Russians conquer them.”
Quiet confidence – and quiet reservations
Despite the upbeat tone from some Ukrainian officials, not all Western diplomats are convinced the US strategy will bear immediate fruit.
A senior Central European diplomat told Kyiv Post that allies “support diplomatic exploration” but warned that “Moscow smells leverage” and could drag out talks to buy time.
Another Western official described the process as “the early scaffolding of something that might matter later – but only if Washington is willing to enforce costs on Russia.”
Still, US officials insist the pace will continue. Negotiators will reconvene on Saturday, according to the State Department, underscoring the administration’s belief that the diplomatic track must run in parallel with – not instead of – military aid.
Or as one Western official put it: “Nobody’s popping champagne. But at least everyone’s at the table.”
Because in Washington, nothing is real until the meeting after the next meeting.