For Vitkoff, the trip on Ukrzaliznytsia brought back memories of his childhood
U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said he really enjoyed his trip to Kyiv on a Ukrzaliznytsia train. The trip on the Ukrainian railroad reminded the American guest of his childhood, when he used to take the train to visit his grandmother in Florida.
U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv on September 6 via an “Ukrzaliznytsia” train. Upon arrival, he shared his impressions of the trip and spoke about an unexpected memory it brought back. Witkoff noted that traveling on a Ukrainian train reminded him of his childhood. “I didn’t just like the train—I really loved it! It reminded me of how, as a child, I used to take the train to visit my grandmother in Florida. It was wonderful,” said the U.S. President’s Special Envoy.
Witkoff arrived in Kyiv together with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The American officials traveled to the Ukrainian capital for meetings with Ukrainian government representatives. While speaking with journalists, Witkoff recalled the trip to Kyiv in particular. According to him, the journey brought back fond memories of his childhood and visits to his grandmother.
Ukrzaliznytsia also prepared a special menu for the American delegation. During the trip, Witkoff and Kushner were treated to traditional Crimean Tatar dishes. The menu included dishes associated with the cuisine of Russian-occupied Crimea. In this way, the American guests were also able to become acquainted with Ukrainian Crimean Tatar culinary traditions.
The American delegation’s trip to Kyiv took place against the backdrop of important diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and the United States. Representatives of the Trump administration are participating in negotiations regarding a possible end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously stated that Ukraine is interested in having the most constructive and substantive dialogue possible with the American side.
For Witkoff, this was his first visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Together with Kushner, he arrived in the capital by train. After their visit concluded, the American representatives also departed Ukraine by train. A special “Peace Express” train was organized for them. Ukrzaliznytsia thanked Witkoff and Kushner for their visit and wished the American guests a speedy return to Ukraine.
Trips by foreign delegations on the Ukrainian railway have become a routine part of diplomatic visits during the full-scale war. Due to security restrictions, rail travel remains one of the primary ways for high-ranking foreign officials to reach Kyiv. This time, the trip left a lasting impression on Witkoff for more than just the diplomatic mission. The U.S. special envoy unexpectedly found a personal connection to his childhood during his trip to the Ukrainian capital. This is evident from a recording of the media briefing featuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is holding a separate one-on-one meeting with U.S. President’s Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
