Yermak Calls Talks with US Envoy Constructive, Urges Pressure on Russia
Ukraine’s top presidential aide Andrii Yermak and First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsya met in New York on Friday with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, in what Kyiv described as a constructive step toward advancing peace efforts.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Yermak’s post on social media.
Yermak said the talks focused on implementing the agreements reached between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump during their Aug. 18 summit in Washington.
“The most important thing is to move real diplomacy forward and ensure the summit decisions are carried out. We are coordinating our efforts with the United States,” he noted.
According to Yermak, the Ukrainian side briefed Witkoff on Russia’s ongoing war crimes, including the recent missile and drone strike on Kyiv that killed 25 people, among them four children.
“Ukraine welcomes all peace initiatives proposed by the U.S. However, unfortunately, each of them is being obstructed by Russia. International pressure is necessary for Russia to become truly prepared to take steps toward peace,” Yermak stressed.
He underlined that Russia continues to drag out hostilities and reject meaningful steps toward peace, while Ukraine remains committed to pursuing a durable settlement.
Kyslytsya also described the discussion as “constructive from start to finish,” stressing that both sides showed “a genuine willingness to find practical solutions for implementing the presidents’ agreements.”
Addressing speculation about potential concessions, Yermak emphasized that Washington is not pressuring Ukraine to cede territory. “It is important to end this speculation – no one from the American side is pushing Ukraine on territorial issues,” he said.
Ukraine, he added, is prepared for direct negotiations at the highest level, including possible talks involving Zelenskyy, Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Several countries have indicated readiness to host such a summit, though Russia has so far resisted.
Yermak invited Witkoff to visit Ukraine soon, underscoring Kyiv’s openness to dialogue and its call for stronger international pressure on Moscow to engage seriously in peace efforts.
As The Gaze reported earlier, US President Donald Trump warned of what he called an “economic war” against Russia if efforts to secure a peace deal with President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fail.