Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Russia Says Ukraine Talks With US Outlined Settlement Avenues
Russian President Vladimir Putin met two US representatives in Moscow to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
The meeting lasted about three hours.
A Russian official said the talks were serious, open and useful.
He said the US representatives shared ideas about possible ways to reach a settlement.
However, neither side indicated that a major agreement had been reached.
Russia and Ukraine also announced short pauses in attacks around the meeting.
The fighting has continued with long-range strikes.
Civilian deaths and injuries have reached some of their highest levels since the war began in February 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held three hours of talks in Moscow with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov called the discussions substantive, constructive and extremely frank, but no breakthrough was reported.
Ushakov said the US envoys presented ideas about possible avenues for a settlement without providing details.
Russia emphasized its assessment of the conflict, claimed advances by its army and the need to address the conflict’s root causes.
Russia and Ukraine announced temporary pauses in attacks as long-range strikes and civilian casualties continued.
- Who
- Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov were involved in or reported on the talks.
- What
- Putin and the US envoys held discussions about possible ways to end the Ukraine war.
- When
- The talks took place on Saturday and lasted three hours; temporary attack pauses began from midnight Saturday, with Ukraine’s pause announced through Monday.
- Where
- The talks were held in Moscow, Russia; the announced pauses concerned strikes on Kyiv and Moscow.
- Why
- The discussions aimed to explore a settlement and ending the war, while Russia said addressing the conflict’s root causes was necessary.
Russian officials’ assessment
Cautious assessment of progress
Significance of the talks
Russian officials’ assessment
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the meeting as timely, highly beneficial, substantive, constructive and extremely frank.
Cautious assessment of progress
There was no indication from either side of a breakthrough, and the article said peace efforts have struggled to make progress.
Military and diplomatic framing
Russian officials’ assessment
Ushakov said Russia highlighted advances by its army, expressed confidence in achieving its stated objectives and stressed eliminating the conflict’s root causes.
Cautious assessment of progress
The continuing heavy attacks and high civilian casualties indicate that the conflict remains active despite the diplomatic engagement.
- Meeting participants
- Vladimir Putin, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Location
- Moscow, Russia
- Duration
- Three hours
- Russian assessment
- Substantive, constructive and extremely frank
- Settlement ideas
- US envoys outlined possible avenues for a settlement, but details were not released
- Attack pauses
- Russia said it would not strike Kyiv for three days; Ukraine said it would stop strikes on Moscow until Monday
- Conflict status
- Heavy long-range attacks continued, with civilian casualties among the highest since February 2022