Diplomatic Momentum Builds Across Europe
The conversation with Witkoff and Kushner came on the heels of Zelenskyy's meetings in London with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz all backed the idea of a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a possible pathway to a ceasefire. The three leaders also made clear that Europe expected to have a seat at the table in any peace process.

After leaving London, Zelenskyy spoke separately with Macron to compare notes on the U.S. discussions and map out next steps. He acknowledged that much of the world's attention had shifted toward the conflict in Iran, but stressed that peace in Europe remained firmly on the agenda. He also mentioned the upcoming G7 summit in the French resort town of Evian as a potential moment to advance talks, and thanked Washington for what he described as a positive reading of Ukraine's diplomatic stance.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials are still working through the logistics of a possible visit to Kyiv by Witkoff and Kushner, which could happen within the coming weeks. If it goes ahead, it would be the first time either envoy has set foot in Ukraine officially, having previously made trips to Moscow for discussions with the Russian side.

Ceasefire Efforts Hit Resistance at the UN
While diplomacy appeared to inch forward in some corners, the United Nations told a different story. At a special session of the UN Security Council — the fifth such meeting on the war in just 20 days — delegates from the European Union, the United States, China, and others pressed for renewed ceasefire efforts. The session painted a grim picture of what was happening on the ground.

Indrika Ratwatte, acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the council that Russia was intensifying its strikes on densely populated Ukrainian cities. Since Friday alone, at least 30 civilians have been killed and around 200 wounded. He also reported that seven humanitarian vehicles were hit in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, injuring aid workers and volunteers in what he called completely unacceptable attacks.

Ukraine's UN representative, Andriy Melnyk, confirmed that Putin had flatly rejected Zelenskyy's proposal for a face-to-face meeting, turning down a letter the Ukrainian president had sent directly to the Kremlin. Russia's representative Vasily Nebenzya dismissed the overture as little more than rudeness wrapped in ultimatums, insisting Moscow wanted a genuine resolution rather than what he called a performance of negotiations.