Witkoff and Kushner may make first-ever Kyiv visit, Ukraine’s Presidential Office chief says

Ukraine's Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov told Bloomberg on Saturday that a US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is expected to arrive in Kyiv shortly after Orthodox Easter, celebrated on 12 April. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham may also be part of the team, Budanov said.

"Kushner, Witkoff, Lindsey Graham — those are the ones expected to come. Who else will be there — we'll see," Budanov said.

A US official confirmed to Bloomberg that a potential trip by Witkoff and Kushner to Ukraine is under discussion but has not yet been confirmed.

First visit to Ukraine

While Witkoff and Kushner — Trump's son-in-law — have visited Russia multiple times for talks with President Vladimir Putin, including a meeting at the Kremlin on January 22, this would mark their first visit to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously invited the US negotiators to Kyiv without specifying timing. He proposed this week that if a joint visit by all three envoys proves difficult, they could come separately. "If it doesn't work with all three of us, then let's do it this way — one by one," Zelenskyy

y said. "I've heard positive signals from partners regarding such a proposal."

Zelenskyy also suggested a stop in Ukraine could precede the team's next trip to Moscow.

Security guarantees

Ukraine's central concern heading into any talks is the nature of US security assurances against future Russian aggression. Budanov said progress has been made. "We set out what we want a long time ago. I think it will be implemented soon," he said. "What comes next is another question. But on security guarantees, we have definitely made progress — we've already moved forward."

He added that Kyiv may secure stronger assurances following the delegation's visit.

State of talks

US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled. Negotiations set for the United Arab Emirates in early March were postponed, according to Bloomberg. The two sides remain far apart: the Kremlin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the Donetsk region, including areas not under Russian control, while Kyiv insists on holding the current front line. Washington has proposed a "free economic zone" in the disputed territory under neither country's sovereignty.

Oil strikes and the Iran factor

In a separate development, Budanov said Ukraine has received requests from foreign allies to suspend its regular drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. The requests come amid rising global oil and fuel prices linked to the ongoing Iran war, now in its sixth week. "Let's answer this diplomatically. We are receiving certain signals about this," Budanov said, without elaborating. He added that he is optimistic the Gulf conflict may end soon.

Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange strikes: Russia targets Ukrainian power, gas and railway infrastructure, while Ukraine directs drone fire primarily at Russian oil refineries, fertilizer producers and military-linked facilities, Bloomberg reports