Witkoff meets with Ukrainian officials in New York ahead of emergency UN Security Council meeting: “very productive”

Exclusive: White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian officials in New York City on Friday for a “very productive and constructive” conversation Emergency UN Security Council meeting, Fox News Digital learned.

Witkoff met with Andriy Yermack, the head of the Ukrainian President and Chief of Staff Office, and Sergiy Kyslytsya of Ukrainian Ambassador.

Russian attack killed 17 people, injured 48 Ukrainian officials in Kiev

Senior government officials familiar with the meeting told Fox News Digital, Yermack and Kyslytsya’s identity to Witkoff updated their wars with Russia and Moscow Recent attacks.

Russia’s massive attack on Kiev on Wednesday night killed at least 17 people, injured 48 people and destroyed buildings, officials in Ukraine explain.

this Ukrainian officials A senior official told Fox News Digital that Witkoff was invited to visit Ukraine in the future.

Witkoff is continuing to work with Ukrainian employeesWhen they shrink over the problem, – Officials say they are “making progress.”

The meeting was a status update, according to Trump administration officials, and reaffirmed the goal of getting Ukraine and Russia to meet simultaneously to finally reach a deal to end the war.

Witkoff’s diplomatic attitude in highly sensitive negotiations has been praised by Trump’s cabinet and foreign officials.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio He also touted Vidocff’s work, saying he was “a key member of President Trump’s team and played an essential role in raising the president’s priorities.”

Rubio told Fox News Digital that Witkoff’s “unique perspectives and innovative approaches open up diplomatic opportunities that were previously unavailable”.

Rubio told Fox News that it was striking to see him in action and honor.

The national security adviser for Jonathan Powell in the UK also praised Witkoff’s style.

Powell reflects on his 30-year experience in peace negotiations, telling the Fox News figures “There are a lot of diplomatic snobbery, only peace in the room of the big chandelier, and thousands of officials and decades of diplomatic experience.”

“But, in my experience, people who actually succeed in building peace focus on building trust among key leaders on either side and moving quietly to reach a deal,” Powell said. “Steve Witkoff is exactly that kind of person.”

Steve Witkoff was signed at the executive order on Monday, February 3, 2025 at the White House Oval Office in Washington, DC, USA. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Powell told Fox News Digital that Witkoff’s experience of “a totally different field” and his “charm and optimism” are not responsible for several reasons why the initiative doesn’t work properly and that the focus on reaching a lasting agreement is lasting. ”

“In court this year, Steve has been able to open the door and no one else can and achieve peace in a series of different conflicts that would otherwise not be resolved,” Powell said.

Jared Kushner, a former senior Trump adviser, told Fox News in his first administration that the Trump administration “has a small, focused team with the right leadership to achieve great results.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo held in Washington on June 27, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

“It’s not uncommon from the trading world, and it’s not uncommon to manage several complex transactions at the same time,” Kushner said.

“Steve is quickly seeking advice and expertise as he evaluates the situation and develops his perspective as facts change,” Kushner said.

However, this week’s report cited anonymous sources, who said Vidok did not have enough experience to deal with the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

Vice President JD VanceStill, though, Witkoff told Fox News Digital that “greater progress has been made in ending the bloodshed in Ukraine than the sum of all his critics.”

“He is a natural diplomat, experienced negotiator and a true humanitarian,” Vance said.

Vance blows up those who criticize Witkoff for being “threatened”.

Russia launches its biggest attack on Ukraine this month after Trump and Putin’s Zelenskyy meeting

“These smears are from lifelong bureaucracy, threatened by Steve’s success, and are essentially opposed to a productive peace process,” Vance said.

Meanwhile, Witkoff’s meeting with officials in New York City came hours after Ukraine demanded an emergency public briefing at the UN Security Council after Ukraine demanded overnight air strikes in Russia in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities.

Council members Denmark, France, Greece, Republic of Korea, Slovenia and the United Kingdom support the meeting request.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left, met Donald Trump in Washington, DC on August 19, 2025. (Ukrainian President/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Image)

Russia used nearly 600 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles in the attack this week, the report said.

The continued attacks in Russia occurred earlier this month after President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Putin proposed that Ukraine abandon some territory in exchange for peace.

A few days later, Trump hosted the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy Several European heads of state in the White House were urging Ukraine to accept a land swap agreement with Russia. Trump believes this is the most effective way to end the war.

Trump hosts Zelenskyy with French President Emmanuel MacronBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniand Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutt European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attended the White House meeting.

(LR) Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met a group in a white house on August 18, 2025 preparations, and the company was ready to set off. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump is coordinating the next step to end the war and encourages Putin and Zelenskyy to meet.

Trump has said that after Putin and Zelenskyy meet, he will host the “Trilat”, which will be a meeting with Putin, Zelensky and Trump.

“After that meeting, we will have a triangle, and that will be two presidents, and myself,” Trump said last week. “Again, this is a very good early step that has been going on for nearly four years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine.”

But after the latest attack this week, Zelensky blew up Putin saying Russia “chooses the ballistics rather than the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing rather than end the war.”

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“This means Russia still doesn’t have to worry about the consequences,” Zelensky said. “Russia still exploits the fact that at least a part of the world is blind to murdered children and seeks excuses for Putin.”

Zelenskyy added, “It is definitely time to impose new, tough sanctions on Russia.”

“All deadlines have been broken, dozens of opportunities to destroy diplomacy. Russia must take responsibility for every day of this war. An eternal memory of all victims of Russia,” he said.