Zelensky: U.S. Exploring Winter De‑Escalation Steps

President Zelensky said on Monday that the United States is exploring whether Ukraine and Russia could take steps to de‑escalate the war this winter and restart broader peace talks.

Envoys met Moscow then Kyiv

Zelensky described the U.S. team as trying to "unblock" diplomacy and bringing new ideas. "There are ideas around energy [facilities] and around grain [shipments], around electricity [facilities] and around oil and gas [exports]," he said, adding that Russia and Ukraine have different interests on those points.

Winter support and de‑escalation ideas

Officials said the U.S. team is expected to brief President Trump this week and then continue consultations with Ukrainian and European counterparts. The coming days will show whether practical understandings can be reached before winter or whether talks will stall.

Zelensky said envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow for a three‑hour meeting with President Putin and then met him in Kyiv on Sunday. He said the message from the U.S. envoys was that "the Russians are ready to negotiate," though he remained skeptical because Russia's battlefield actions and recent escalation of strikes did not show willingness to compromise.

Zelensky said the United States also backs a separate winter package for Ukraine that would include air defence and energy assistance. "It's not only about missiles," he said, mentioning LNG and other measures alongside de‑escalation steps intended to keep infrastructure and supply lines functioning through winter.