Kiev confirms invitation to Witkoff and Kushner despite accusations of disrespect

Ukraine is not withdrawing its invitation to U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv.

This was stated by Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

“The invitation remains in force,” Zhovkva said.

The statement came against the backdrop of public criticism of the American negotiators by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier, in a televised marathon broadcast, he accused Witkoff and Kushner of disrespecting Ukraine. Zelensky acknowledged that there are difficulties with visiting Ukraine, but pointed out that other politicians do come to Kyiv. According to him, “it is not we who need the visit, but they.” At the same time, the head of state noted that what matters to him is the outcome of the negotiations, not the venue.

Zelensky also stated that Witkoff and Kushner are convinced that Russia is winning the conflict in Ukraine, and called this a “problem” for Kyiv. According to him, the sooner the American negotiators come to Kyiv, the sooner it will become clear “what they think.”

Presidential Office adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, for his part, expressed displeasure that the American mediators are “eating chebureki” in Moscow.