Ukrainian President's Chief of Staff: US Envoys Expected to Visit Kyiv This Month to Push for Negotiations

On April 4, reports from foreign media indicated that Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Ukraine expects a delegation led by US Special Envoy Kurt Volker and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Trump, to visit Kyiv this month to promote the resumption of peace negotiations. The delegation is likely to arrive shortly after Orthodox Easter on April 12. Although Volker and Kushner have previously traveled to Russia for talks with President Putin, this will be their first visit to Ukraine. Yermak mentioned that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham may also accompany them. An American official noted that the possibility of Volker and Kushner visiting Ukraine is under discussion but has not been finalized. Yermak indicated that with the visit of the US delegation, Kyiv might receive stronger commitments. Additionally, he mentioned that as the war in Iran enters its sixth week, driving up global oil and fuel prices, Ukraine has received requests from foreign allies to suspend regular airstrikes on Russian refineries. He stated, ‘We will respond diplomatically. We have indeed received relevant signals,’ but did not elaborate further.