Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in discussions with U.S. Special Representative Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, on June 8. The conversation took place during a brief stop at Chisinau Airport, as confirmed by the President’s Office.
In a statement, Zelensky described the dialogue as “very positive,” expressing gratitude for their commitment to actively promote diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. He acknowledged the global attention on Iran but emphasized the shared objective of achieving peace in Europe. The discussions also touched upon prospects for the upcoming G7 summit and other significant events scheduled for June. Zelensky shared insights on Moscow’s current stance, thanking his interlocutors for their respect towards Ukraine and their supportive assessment of its position.
Context: On May 8, Zelensky announced that Vitkoff and Kushner would visit Ukraine at the transition between spring and summer. Both are part of the U.S. delegation mediating talks between Kyiv and Moscow to explore options for concluding the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Zelensky’s open letter to President Vladimir Putin, which was circulated widely. Lavrov claimed that Putin interpreted the letter as an indication that Ukraine was not interested in negotiations.
“Regarding the likelihood of resuming talks with Ukraine, Putin elaborated on this during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. He viewed Zelensky’s letter, which was sent to him but distributed globally, as a sign that Ukraine does not need negotiations. We are ready for honest negotiations, without deceit,” Lavrov stated.
Context: On June 4, Zelensky publicly invited Putin to meet and discuss an end to the war. Putin responded the following day, stating he saw no reason to meet with Zelensky at this time, previously asserting that any meeting should be conclusive and aimed at signing a treaty rather than negotiating terms for ending the conflict initiated by Russia.
In other developments, Budapest and Kyiv have made significant progress in addressing Hungary’s requirements for Ukraine’s European Union membership. During technical consultations, 10 out of 11 demands from Budapest were agreed upon, although one issue regarding the representation of national minorities in Ukraine’s parliament remains unresolved.
Sources indicate that Hungary has agreed to open the first cluster of negotiations concerning Ukraine’s EU accession, while the outstanding issue will be referred to the Venice Commission and the OSCE for clarification on its implementation. This matter could resurface during future discussions related to human rights.
In a troubling local development, the last maternity ward in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, is set to close due to security concerns following an airstrike. The facility was damaged by a bomb that fell approximately 200 meters away, although no injuries were reported.
Vadym Lyakh, head of the Sloviansk Military Administration, confirmed the closure during a television broadcast. He noted that the maternity ward was the only one operating in the Donetsk region, and expectant mothers will now need to consider alternative locations for childbirth.
Ukrainian President Zelensky's recent diplomatic talks with U.S. representatives aim to advance peace efforts amid ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, local challenges persist, including the closure of the last maternity ward in Sloviansk due to security threats from airstrikes.