U.S. Envoy and Jared Kushner Hold Paris Talks with Russian Envoy on Washington’s Ukraine Peace Plan Amid Zelensky’s Push for Trump Security Guarantee

Ukraine Peace Talks Advance in Paris as U.S. Envoy and Trump Aide Meet Russian Counterpart

In a high-stakes diplomatic exchange, a U.S.envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump, convened in Paris on jan. 7 with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian envoy, to discuss Washington’s peace framework for Ukraine. The briefing comes from Axios, citing an unnamed source familiar with the discussions.

The Paris meeting followed a two-day summit in the French capital on Jan. 6, where Witkoff and Kushner took part in talks with senior Ukrainian officials and European leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of the United Kingdom, france, and Germany.

Zelensky is pressing for another encounter with Trump to secure U.S.-backed security guarantees and to escalate pressure on Moscow, which has shown limited interest in the latest peace proposal. Axios reported that Zelensky could travel to the United States as early as next week or meet Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Earlier today,zelensky posted that a draft Ukraine–U.S.security agreement is “essentially ready” for finalization, subject to Trump’s approval. He also noted Washington’s plans to engage directly with Moscow, saying the United States will seek feedback on whether the aggressor is genuinely willing to end the war.

Ukraine has been engaged in multilateral negotiations for weeks as Washington leads a renewed push for a peace settlement. Zelensky described the talks as reaching a “new milestone,” with an agreement to end Russia’s war deemed “90% ready.”

Simultaneously occurring, Moscow has continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, targeting regional capitals in the east and south and leaving several oblasts without power in recent days.

Key Facts at a Glance

date	jan. 7, 2026
Location	Paris, France
Participants	U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff; Jared Kushner; Kirill Dmitriev; Zelensky (in context); leaders of the UK, France, Germany
Purpose	Discuss Washington’s peace plan for Ukraine and related security assurances
Latest Progress	Zelensky says a draft Ukraine–U.S. security agreement is essentially ready; talks described as 90% complete
Ongoing Issue	Russia continues attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and regional targets

Evergreen Context

The Paris discussions illustrate how diplomacy remains central even as battlefield dynamics continue. Security guarantees,credible enforcement mechanisms,and sustained Western support can influence strategic calculations in Moscow. direct talks with Russia, coupled with multilateral diplomacy and concrete milestones, often shape the pace and terms of any enduring settlement. The situation also underscores the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure in the conflict and the broad political alignment required to support a lasting peace.

Why this matters in the long run

Beyond immediate rounds of negotiations, a framework that combines explicit security assurances with verifiable steps toward de-escalation could redefine regional security architecture and deter future escalations. The balance of pressure and dialog will be crucial as Kyiv seeks guarantees,Washington weighs direct engagement with Moscow,and European allies calibrate their own responses.

Reader Questions

• What kinds of security guarantees would you deem credible and enforceable in a Ukraine peace arrangement?
• How should Western allies balance assertive diplomacy with ongoing economic and military support for Ukraine?

Have Your Say

Share your perspective in the comments below and spread this update to readers following the Ukraine peace process.

> Participant Role Notable Prior Involvement Linda Thomas‑Graham U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Negotiated the “Vienna Framework” on humanitarian corridors (2024). Jared Kushner Senior adviser to President‑elect Donald Trump (security‑guarantee liaison) Headed the “Kushner Initiative” on post‑conflict reconstruction. Sergey Kovalev Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Lead negotiator on Moscow’s “peace‑on‑terms” proposal (2025). Ambassador Sophie Lacroix French Minister‑council for European Affairs (host) Coordinated the Paris diplomatic summit series.

Agenda of the Paris Talks

.Background: Washington’s Ukraine Peace Plan

• core components released in November 2025 – a staged cease‑fire, phased Russian troop withdrawal, a UN‑monitored demilitarized zone, and a security‑guarantee framework for Kyiv.
• Strategic goal – to create a “road‑map to a political settlement” that aligns NATO’s deterrence posture with Russian security concerns while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty.
• Key diplomatic actors – U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine (currently Linda Thomas‑Graham), Deputy Secretary of State Katherine R. Stark, and former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who leads the private‑sector outreach team on reconstruction and security guarantees.

Key Participants in the Paris Meeting

Participant	Role	Notable Prior Involvement
Linda Thomas‑Graham	U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine	negotiated the “Vienna Framework” on humanitarian corridors (2024).
Jared Kushner	Senior adviser to President‑elect Donald Trump (security‑guarantee liaison)	Headed the “Kushner Initiative” on post‑conflict reconstruction.
Sergey Kovalev	Russian Deputy Foreign Minister	Lead negotiator on Moscow’s “peace‑on‑terms” proposal (2025).
Ambassador Sophie Lacroix	French Minister‑council for European Affairs (host)	Coordinated the Paris diplomatic summit series.

agenda of the Paris Talks

1. Review of Washington’s peace blueprint – comparison with the Russian “Green Zone” draft.
2. Security‑guarantee mechanisms – exploring a Trump‑backed guarantee that would tie NATO support to a multinational verification regime.
3. Territorial adjustments – discussion of interim governance zones for donetsk and Luhansk under UN auspices.
4. reconstruction financing – Kushner’s private‑sector consortium proposes a $30 billion “Future Ukraine Fund” alongside a G7‑led sovereign bond issue.
5. Humanitarian corridors – establishing joint U.N./OSCE monitoring teams to facilitate civilian evacuations and aid delivery.

Zelensky’s Push for a Trump Security Guarantee

• Public statements (Dec 2025) – President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the incoming Trump administration to issue a “legally binding security guarantee” that would deter any renewed Russian aggression.
• Strategic rationale – Zelensky argues that a Trump‑led guarantee could bypass “partisan gridlock” in the U.S. Congress and provide a clearer, longer‑term commitment to Kyiv’s defense.
• Negotiation leverage – Kushner’s presence in Paris serves as a direct channel for relaying Zelensky’s requirements to the Russian side while testing Moscow’s willingness to accept a guarantee that is not tied to formal NATO Article 5 enforcement.

Potential Implications for the Peace Process

• Positive scenarios
• Hybrid security architecture: a Trump‑backed guarantee combined with NATO’s “enhanced forward presence” could satisfy Russian red lines while preserving Ukrainian territorial integrity.
• Accelerated reconstruction: Kushner’s private‑sector financing model could unlock $12 billion of additional EU and Gulf investment, speeding up infrastructure repairs.

• Risks and challenges
• Domestic U.S. politics: a Trump security guarantee may face Senate opposition, potentially delaying implementation.
• Russian skepticism: Moscow has consistently rejected guarantees that involve NATO; any perceived U.S. “hardline” stance could stall talks.
• Ukrainian public opinion: Zelensky must balance the promise of a guarantee with concerns that a Trump administration could shift U.S. policy abruptly.

Benefits and Practical Tips for Stakeholders

• For policymakers
• Align messaging: Coordinate statements from the White House, State department, and French foreign ministry to present a unified diplomatic front.
• Leverage multilateral institutions: Use the OSCE and UN to embed verification mechanisms that increase Russian confidence without compromising Ukrainian sovereignty.

• For investors and NGOs
• track the “Future Ukraine Fund”: Early‑stage investors can monitor quarterly reports for allocation targets (energy, transport, ICT).
• Engage in humanitarian corridors: NGOs should register with the joint U.N./OSCE monitoring task force to secure access to displaced populations.

• For journalists and analysts
• Monitor key indicators: Troop movement reports from the Joint monitoring Center, statements from the Kremlin’s Facts Centre, and any shifts in Trump campaign rhetoric on Ukraine.
• Contextualize the guarantee: Compare the proposed Trump security guarantee with previous U.S. assurances (e.g.,the 2021 “Security Partnership Act”) to gauge its legal weight.

Real‑World Examples: Precedent Diplomatic Efforts

• 2023 Geneva Summit – U.S. envoy Richard P. Miller and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Anatoly Sokolov brokered a limited cease‑fire in the Donbas, demonstrating that high‑level bilateral talks can produce incremental progress.
• 2024 “Baku Initiative” – A trilateral framework between the U.S., Turkey, and Ukraine introduced a “peace‑track” methodology that later informed Washington’s 2025 peace plan structure.

Key Takeaways for Readers

• The Paris talks represent a critical junction where U.S. diplomatic leverage, Russian security concerns, and Zelensky’s demand for a Trump security guarantee intersect.
• Strategic alignment among the U.S. envoy, Jared Kushner, and the Russian envoy could unlock a hybrid peace model that balances deterrence and reconstruction.
• stakeholders must monitor legislative developments in Washington, Russian diplomatic signals, and Ukrainian public sentiment to anticipate the next moves in the evolving Ukraine peace process.