Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Zelensky Warns Russia-Ukraine War May Continue Into Winter
The war between Russia and Ukraine may continue through another winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv.
The envoys had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin the day before in Moscow.
They said they had new ideas for possible peace talks, but they did not explain them fully.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs help with air defenses, energy and future security.
Russia and Ukraine still disagree about which territories should belong to Russia.
Zelenskyy said only the countries' leaders could solve these difficult territorial questions.
The United States, Ukraine and European countries plan to keep talking, while fighting continues in areas outside the capitals.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war with Russia currently appears likely to continue through winter.
Zelenskyy sought allied support for air defenses, energy supplies and a postwar prosperity plan, including possible US LNG.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Zelenskyy in Kyiv after holding more than three hours of talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Ukraine said territorial questions should be settled by national leaders, while Russia demands additional Ukrainian territory and recognition of its claims.
The United States, Ukraine and European representatives agreed to continue discussions, but no breakthrough or specific agreement was announced.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and representatives from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
- What
- Officials discussed possible peace efforts, security guarantees, economic support, territorial disputes and a postwar plan for Ukraine.
- When
- The Kyiv talks took place on Sunday, after Witkoff and Kushner met Putin in Moscow on Saturday.
- Where
- The talks took place in Kyiv and Moscow; the US delegation arrived in Kyiv by train.
- Why
- The discussions aimed to revive diplomacy over the war while Ukraine sought allied support and Russia and Ukraine remained divided over territory and peace terms.
Ukraine and Allied Position
Russia's Position
Territorial settlement
Ukraine and Allied Position
Ukraine rejects additional territorial concessions and says complex territorial issues should be resolved directly by national leaders.
Russia's Position
Russia insists Ukraine surrender the remainder of eastern Donetsk and has sought recognition of territories it claims as Russian.
Path to peace
Ukraine and Allied Position
Ukraine says peace should include security guarantees, a dignified postwar settlement and continued allied support.
Russia's Position
Russia and the US envoys have said both sides must make compromises to narrow their differences.
Prospects for progress
Ukraine and Allied Position
Zelenskyy gave the talks a positive assessment but warned that the war still appeared likely to continue through winter.
Russia's Position
The Kremlin and US officials described the Moscow discussions as substantive and said they produced ideas or plans for a possible settlement.
- War outlook
- Zelenskyy said the war appeared likely to continue into winter.
- US delegation
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made their first reported visit to Kyiv as the Trump administration's negotiating envoys.
- Prior Moscow meeting
- The envoys held more than three hours of talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.
- Ukraine's requested support
- Ukraine sought air-defense reinforcements, energy assistance including US LNG, security guarantees and economic support.
- Territorial dispute
- Russia demands additional territory and recognition of its claims, including the remainder of eastern Donetsk; Ukraine rejects those terms.
- Further diplomacy
- The United States, Ukraine and European countries agreed to hold another meeting, but its time and location were not specified.
- Fighting during talks
- Russia and Ukraine pledged not to strike each other's capitals temporarily, but fighting and attacks continued elsewhere.
