Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized US envoys over their diplomatic engagement, calling their absence from Kyiv “disrespectful.”
His remarks come amid ongoing efforts to revive stalled peace talks over the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky said he found it unacceptable that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have visited Moscow multiple times but have never made an official visit to Kyiv.
He said the imbalance in diplomatic visits sends the wrong message during ongoing negotiations.
“It’s disrespectful,” Says Zelensky
In an interview with a Ukrainian media outlet, Zelensky stated, “It’s disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv.”
He added that while he understands logistical challenges, meetings could easily be arranged in other countries if needed.
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate businessman and now a US special envoy under Donald Trump, has reportedly visited Moscow several times and met Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions.
Jared Kushner has also been part of diplomatic efforts linked to ceasefire discussions.
Ukraine says it wants inclusion in talks
Zelensky earlier said the US envoys were expected to visit Ukraine, but the trip did not happen amid shifting focus toward Middle East tensions.
Kyiv has repeatedly stressed the need to be directly involved in peace negotiations.
Efforts to end the war have included multiple rounds of negotiations between Russia, the US, and Ukraine, with some progress on military issues like ceasefire monitoring.
However, major disagreements remain unresolved, particularly over Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, continues to cause heavy destruction across Ukraine.
Large areas in the east remain under Russian control, while cities face frequent drone and missile attacks.
