Ukraine expects US envoys in late spring or early summer, hopes to revive peace talks
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 8 that Ukraine expects envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv in late spring or early summer following the latest round of talks with Washington.
In a statement published on X, Zelensky said he had been briefed by Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, about recent discussions with U.S. representatives in Miami as part of ongoing American-led efforts to negotiate a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
“The negotiations were substantive. We are coordinating the schedule of the necessary visits and expect envoys of the U.S. President in Kyiv at the turn of spring and summer,” Zelensky said.
According to Umerov, the talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner focused on humanitarian issues, prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, and broader peace efforts.
The discussions also addressed details of U.S.-backed security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president expressed hope that the anticipated visit by the American envoys would help “reinvigorate diplomacy,” as negotiations remain stalled over Russia’s territorial demands and its refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
Despite previously traveling to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Witkoff and Kushner have not yet visited Kyiv. Zelensky has earlier voiced frustration over their absence, amid growing concerns in Ukraine regarding Washington’s strategy for ending the war.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier in April that negotiations with Ukraine are not currently a priority for Moscow.
Russia is urgently expanding anti-drone forces, boosting drone production amid a surge in Ukrainian strikes
Russia is urgently expanding its anti-drone forces and accelerating drone production as Ukrainian long-range strikes increasingly target military, industrial, and energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
According to Russian officials and military analysts, Moscow is reorganizing parts of its armed forces to better counter Ukrainian drone attacks, which have intensified in both scale and range over recent months. The Kremlin has reportedly ordered the rapid expansion of mobile air-defense units, electronic warfare systems, and specialized anti-drone teams tasked with protecting strategic facilities.
The growing concern follows a series of successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian air bases, oil refineries, logistics hubs, and military-industrial sites located hundreds — and in some cases more than a thousand — kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine has significantly expanded its domestic drone capabilities during the war, developing long-range UAVs capable of bypassing Russian air defenses and striking targets deep inside the country. Ukrainian officials say these operations are aimed at weakening Russia’s military production, logistics, and economic capacity to sustain the war.
At the same time, Russia is increasing production of attack drones and loitering munitions, including Shahed-type drones manufactured with Iranian assistance and components sourced largely from China. Moscow is also reportedly investing heavily in fiber-optic FPV drones, which are resistant to electronic jamming and increasingly used on the battlefield.
Russian authorities have also expanded efforts to protect critical infrastructure, including oil refineries, railway hubs, and military airfields, after repeated Ukrainian attacks disrupted fuel production and damaged aircraft.
The Kremlin has publicly acknowledged the growing threat posed by Ukrainian drone warfare, while Russian regional authorities have increasingly reported disruptions to airports, energy infrastructure, and industrial facilities caused by drone strikes.
Ukrainian officials argue that the attacks are having a growing economic and military impact on Russia, forcing Moscow to divert resources toward homeland defense and air protection rather than frontline operations.
Rubio admits US peace mediation in Ukraine has gone nowhere
Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said on May 8 that U.S. efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia “have stagnated,” acknowledging that negotiations have failed to produce meaningful progress so far.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Italy, Rubio said Washington remains willing to continue mediating if conditions become more favorable.
“We've tried to play a mediator role in that,” Rubio said. “So far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons. We remain prepared to play that role if it can be productive.”
“And while we're prepared to play whatever role we can to bring it to a peaceful diplomatic resolution, unfortunately, right now those efforts have stagnated,” he added. “But we always stand ready if those circumstances change.”
The comments came as Rustem Umerov held talks with U.S. officials amid renewed diplomatic contacts between Kyiv and Washington.
Earlier the same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine expects envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv in late spring or early summer in an effort to revive the peace process.
Despite Kyiv’s attempts to restart negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in April that talks with Ukraine are not currently a priority for Moscow.
Negotiations remain blocked by major disagreements, particularly over territory. Ukraine argues that freezing the current front line is the most realistic basis for a ceasefire, while Russia continues demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of Donbas as a precondition for any settlement — a proposal Kyiv has firmly rejected.