Full Breakdown
Jared Kushner’s Ukraine Negotiation Remarks Spark Laughter at Kyiv Forum
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Overview
He framed the missing element of any peace deal as Ukraine’s willingness to withdraw to the line outlined by Moscow. Kushner’s comments were delivered to an audience of diplomats and analysts and were met with audible laughter, according to local media reports.
Background & Context
Kushner was appointed to lead Russia-Ukraine negotiations alongside real-estate investor Steve Witkoff at the start of Trump’s second term. The pair visited Moscow and Kyiv earlier this month in an effort to revive talks. Their diplomatic push follows Trump’s repeated claim that he could end the conflict within a day of taking office, a promise that has not materialized. Kushner’s recent meeting with President Putin and his public statements have drawn criticism for downplaying Russia’s role as the aggressor and for suggesting a “creative solution” that would not “violate” Russian objectives.
Official Statements & Responses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters after the Kyiv meeting that he expects the war to continue into the winter, underscoring Kyiv’s refusal to concede territory. Reuters noted that every proposal from Moscow includes some form of Ukrainian territorial concession, which Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Audience members at the forum laughed when Kushner described Putin as “very committed” to negotiations. The same day, Russian drones struck a crossing point on the Polish-Ukrainian border, a route frequently used by foreign dignitaries traveling to Ukraine.
Verbatim Quotes
- “President Putin’s laid out his line of what he wants to achieve. If Ukraine wanted to withdraw to that line, then obviously we have the rest of the deal set up and put together. Ukraine right now does not want to do that,” — Jared Kushner
- “At least for now, they [the Russians] are saying the right thing, which is they want to discuss a way to resolve this in a way,” — Jared Kushner
What’s Next
Kushner and Witkoff remain engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv, seeking a formula that could satisfy both sides. No specific timetable for a new proposal has been announced, and the conflict’s trajectory continues to be shaped by ongoing military actions and diplomatic overtures.