A senior Ukrainian defence official, Rustem Umerov, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have held talks in the past two days, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday (July 2).

Speaking at one of the sites targeted in a devastating Russian attack on Kyiv as rescuers sifted through rubble, Zelenskiy said he still hoped Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff would visit Ukraine even though U.S.-backed peace efforts to end the war have stalled for months.

Zelenskiy added that he hoped to have a meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara next week.

(Camera: Yurii Muraviov, Editing: Daria Smetanko, Production: Margaryta Chornokondratenko, Daria Smetanko, Writing: Yuliia Dysa)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY COMMENTING / SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION AT COLLAPSED BUILDING IN KYIV

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (JULY 2, 2026)

1. VARIOUS OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY TALKING TO UKRAINIAN MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, IHOR KLYMENKO

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

 "Yesterday was a conversation between, I think, Umerov (senior Ukrainian defence official Rustem Umerov) and Kushner (President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner). And the day before yesterday and etc… So, I mean, they said weeks or, I don't know, maybe months ago that they will come to Ukraine. They have to come to see, to understand and to explain to President and then to answer in a very polite manner, how Steve Witkoff can, to Russia, what they have to do. Quickly sit, negotiate, stop this war."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

 "But what is most important, of course,  we are asking President Trump, his team, yes - rush. That's only one thing. And we don't need, you know, too much words. You see what does it mean when the packages come to Ukraine slowly."

5. WHITE FLASH

6.(SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"All Europe, United States, a lot of different countries live from elections to elections, very understandable. But please, the priority is to save lives, Ukrainian lives."

7. DESTROYED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

8. VARIOUS OF EXCAVATORS WORKING

9. RESCUERS WORKING

10. VARIOUS OF DESTROYED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING