Ukraine war could end before winter, officials say

Kyrylo Budanow, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the Architecture of Security Forum in Kyiv that ending the war before the coming winter is the top priority. He said secret negotiations are underway and that U.S. special envoys – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner – are slated to visit Kyiv and Moscow in the near future. Budanow noted that Russia’s territorial gains in May were the smallest since October 2023, suggesting Moscow may be open to a diplomatic solution.

Separately, analysts note that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier promises to end the Ukraine conflict quickly have faded. The New York Times reports that Trump now rarely mentions the war, and U.S. officials such as State Secretary Marco Rubio describe the negotiations as “a waste of time.” The commentary highlights growing fatigue in the United States over prolonged negotiations that have not produced a cease‑fire.