Witkoff, Kushner, Graham Visit Ukraine for Peace Talks

0:00It's April 4th. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Calgary News today. Your AI-powered local news. Ukraine's gearing up for a big visit from top U.S. envoys, Steve Whitkov and Jared Kushner, who could lead a delegation to Kiev this month to push, peace talks with Russia. President Zelensky's chief of staff, Karelo Budanov, says they might show up right after Orthodox Easter on April 12th. This would be their first trip to Ukraine after multiple chats with Putin in Russia. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham might tag along, too, and Zelensky himself invited them, saying he'd even take one-on-one meetings if needed. Folks in Kiev are hopeful, picking up positive vibes from partners, but their laser focused on nailing down solid U.S. security guarantees against. Feature Russian moves. The war's dragged into its fifth year, with no big battlefield winds for either side. Taks got postponed back in early March in the UAE, and gaps remain huge. Russia wants Ukraine out of the whole Denetsk region, while Kiev holds the line.

1:04The U.S. floated a neutral-free economic zone there as a compromise, and Budanov says they've made real headway on guarantees. Meanwhile, allies are asking Ukraine to ease off drone strikes on Russian oil refineries amid spiking global prices from the Iran conflict. Taks keep flying both ways, but Budanov's betting on quick implementation of their demands, leaving the future steps wide open.