Territorial disputes remain the most difficult issue in efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. presidential envoy Jared Kushner said, stressing that the positions of Moscow and Kyiv continue to diverge sharply.

Speaking online at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv on Sept. 11, Kushner said the territorial question remained central to the negotiations and that developments on the battlefield could significantly influence the diplomatic process.

“Territories will remain the main issue. This is where the parties’ positions still diverge. A great deal depends on the situation on the battlefield, and it is highly dynamic,” Kushner said.

Kushner and fellow U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Kyiv and Moscow on Sept. 5-6, holding separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian leaders as Washington sought to advance efforts toward a negotiated settlement.

According to Kushner, the discussions produced new ideas that could be considered at a future trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.

Russia's territorial demands remain one of the biggest obstacles to an agreement. Moscow has sought control over the entire Donbas, while Kyiv has rejected demands to surrender additional territory.

Kushner said the U.S. side was attempting to find a formula that could address Ukraine's objectives while also creating conditions that would persuade Russia to end the war.

“Our task as mediators is to understand how to find a creative solution that will help Ukraine achieve its goal while also making it possible to end the conflict,” he said.

He added that any eventual agreement would need to provide safeguards capable of preventing the conflict from erupting again.

Kushner said Washington was concentrating on practical measures that could produce tangible progress rather than diplomatic efforts designed merely for appearances. He expressed hope that the parties could announce additional steps in the coming weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following the Kyiv talks that Ukraine, the United States and European partners had agreed to continue diplomatic efforts.

Several possible locations have been discussed for the next trilateral meeting, including the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Türkiye, as well as another venue acceptable to all participants.

No date or location has yet been finalized.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that a plan to restart the negotiation process could be developed in the coming weeks, although significant differences between the parties remain unresolved.

The territorial dispute is expected to remain at the heart of any future negotiations, with Kyiv seeking to preserve its territorial integrity and security while Moscow continues to press its demands over territory and the broader terms of a potential settlement. (ILKHA)