Umerov discusses leader-level negotiation formats with Witkoff and Kushner

The Ukrainian delegation at meetings in the United States discussed with American negotiators possible formats for leader-level meetings to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and hold elections as soon as possible.

This was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his Telegram channel following the negotiations conducted by National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.

Last year, Umerov met with U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. In that year I was happy.

Zelensky stressed the importance of the fact that “America remains in the diplomatic process and, in particular, has acted as a mediator on the prisoner exchange issue.”

The Ukrainian president added that contacts to coordinate the format of the prisoner exchange are continuing “at the necessary level.” According to him, the lists have already been submitted, and the Ukrainian side expects the United States to “be active in ensuring the implementation of this agreement.” Umerov himself, following the meeting, wrote that the main focus was on humanitarian issues and described the dialogue with the American side as constructive.

The negotiation process, meanwhile, remains in limbo. In early May, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow is not abandoning negotiations on Ukraine and is ready for contacts that could lead to a result. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington will continue its mediation only if there is real progress, while for now American efforts, in his words, “have reached a dead end.”

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, for his part, stated that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations are losing their purpose until Kyiv takes an “important step.”

“Several rounds of negotiations were held, and we simply arrived at a situation where it is clear that one side must take an important step, after which a prospect opens up for other steps. But until it takes that step, we can hold several more rounds, dozens of rounds, and we will remain in the same place,” Ushakov said.

In December 2025, Putin declared his readiness to end the conflict peacefully on the basis of Moscow’s proposals put forward in the summer of 2024. These include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territories of the DPR, LPR, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions within their administrative boundaries. Speaking to journalists on May 9, Putin said the conflict is moving toward its conclusion and repeatedly emphasized that Russia is seeking a peaceful settlement provided the root causes are eliminated.

Since the start of the conflict, no negotiations have taken place at the level of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders — meetings have been held exclusively at the delegation level. On May 9, Putin allowed that a meeting with Zelensky was possible in a third country, but not for negotiations, only to formalize agreements already reached.

Zelensky had previously expressed readiness for such a meeting but refused to travel to Moscow or Minsk, insisting that negotiations be held in another country.