US Explores Russia-Ukraine Winter De-Escalation — SkimNews
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- Zelensky told Axios the U.S. is exploring whether Russia and Ukraine could take de-escalation steps during winter while restarting negotiations toward a broader peace agreement.
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a three-hour meeting with Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday, then traveled to Kyiv for their first Ukraine visit since Trump started his second term, meeting Zelensky on Sunday.
- Zelensky said the envoys told him "the Russians are ready to negotiate," though he remains skeptical because Russia's recent battlefield escalation doesn't demonstrate willingness to compromise.
- De-escalation discussions covered potential steps around energy facilities, grain shipments, electricity facilities, and oil and gas exports, Zelensky said, declining to disclose full details.
- The U.S. also supports a separate "winter package" for Ukraine including air defense, LNG, and energy assistance — "it's not only about missiles," Zelensky said.
- Zelensky said "Putin needs Trump" and doesn't want to antagonize the U.S. president ahead of midterm elections, even as Russia counts on a brutal winter to force Kyiv into further concessions.
- Zelensky called for additional U.S. sanctions on Russia, saying "Putin needs money," and proposed using September and October — including the UN General Assembly — to restart diplomacy, with a possible trilateral U.S.-Russia-Ukraine session.
Why it matters: First direct U.S. envoy trip to Kyiv since Trump's second term, following a three-hour Kremlin sit-down with Putin. Zelensky frames September–October as the diplomatic window, anchored by the UN General Assembly — if no concrete movement comes in weeks, momentum dies before winter. A parallel U.S. winter package of air defense and LNG gives Ukraine leverage during talks.
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