Zelensky ready to meet Witkoff and Kushner in the coming days

Zelensky proposed meetings with Trump's envoys soon. Kyiv backs an energy ceasefire if Russia joins. On 13 Oct Russia spared energy by day — then hit Kyiv CHP-4 at night.

Published: 2 min read

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AI-generated illustration: an empty long negotiation table with water carafes in a bright room, no people or text
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Kyiv’s proposal

In his evening address on 13 October Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to meet US partners in the coming days. The proposal has already been conveyed to Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Ukrinform reported.

“Our teams are in communication. Ukraine is ready for meetings; Ukraine has supported the US president on an energy ceasefire. Russia must be part of this agreement as well,” Zelensky stressed. He added that Ukraine’s positions are always clear and aimed at defending independence.

Energy truce: signal and counterstrike

After Trump’s Sunday announcement Kyiv said it was ready to stop hitting Russian energy if Moscow mirrored the step. France 24 and other outlets noted that on Tuesday 13 October Russia for the first time since the “ceasefire” claim appeared to spare Ukrainian energy sites while still hitting cities and logistics. Zelensky said Ukraine had not struck Russian refineries for two days, while Russia had still hit Ukrainian energy on the 12th.

By the evening of the 13th and overnight into the 14th the picture changed again: Ukrainian sources reported a ballistic strike including on Kyiv’s CHP-4 and no partner early warning. The “first day without energy hits” did not become a stable norm.

EU position

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said after the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg that ministers welcome an energy ceasefire only if both sides respect it. One-sided compliance does not work. She also cited nearly 1,600 new sanctions listings against Russia’s military-industrial complex and extra funding for drones and missiles for Ukraine.

Kyiv and winter

Separately Zelensky sharply criticised the capital’s winter preparedness: the city lags other regions on resilience plans — shelters, schools, transport, protection of critical infrastructure. He met Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and spoke with Ivan Fedorov (Zaporizhzhia) as examples of communities that have done more under harder conditions.

Why it matters

Upcoming meetings with Witkoff and Kushner will show whether the “energy ceasefire” has reciprocity and whether Washington will pressure Moscow as hard as Kyiv. Without that, diplomacy stays a declaration against a backdrop of night strikes on CHPs and apartment blocks.

Sources

This is an original short summary. All facts are as reported by the source below.

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