«More than words needed»: Zelenskyy discusses U.S. envoys’ visit to Kyiv

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, maintains regular contact with US Presidential Special Envoy Jared Kushner. However, there are still no concrete updates regarding the American delegation’s visit to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a press briefing on Thursday, July 2, at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential area in Kyiv.
«Yesterday, a conversation took place between Umerov and Kushner. Just like the day before yesterday, and so on,» he said.

The president recalled that US Special Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had promised to visit Ukraine several months ago. In his view, such a visit is essential to advancing the peace process.

«They need to come here to see, understand, and explain it to the President [Trump]. And then, in a very polite manner—as Steve Witkoff knows how to do—respond to Russia on what it needs to do: sit down quickly, negotiate, and stop this war,» Zelenskyy stressed.

He expressed hope that the Americans would eventually arrive despite the prolonged delay.

«That is why we wanted them to visit us. I think it has already been quite a long period of time. I hope they will come,» the president said.

Zelenskyy also added that he understands the US administration is currently preoccupied with the situation in the Middle East, but made it clear that Ukraine expects concrete actions from the United States.

«We are grateful for their position and for their desire to help. But we need more—more than just words,» he concluded.