Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Zelenskiy Says U.S. Envoys Offer Ideas, But No Breakthrough
American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with leaders from Ukraine and Russia.
They discussed ways to end the war.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said some of the ideas were useful.
However, the meetings did not produce a final agreement.
Ukraine and Russia still disagree about territory in the Donbas region.
More talks are expected with Ukrainian, American and European representatives.
Those talks may discuss food shipments, energy facilities and prisoners of war.
Zelenskiy also hopes to discuss air-defense support with President Donald Trump.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskiy said the envoys presented several “decent” ideas for ending the war but provided no details.
The meetings did not resolve major disagreements, including the future of Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas region.
Ukrainian, U.S. and European representatives plan to prepare for another trilateral meeting, potentially hosted by Turkey, the United Arab Emirates or Switzerland.
Zelenskiy said future discussions could cover grain shipments, energy infrastructure, prisoner exchanges and winter air-defense support.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian, U.S. and European representatives.
- What
- Diplomatic efforts to develop proposals for ending the Russia-Ukraine war continued, but produced no breakthrough.
- When
- The talks took place over the weekend; Zelenskiy spoke on Tuesday, September 8, and said he planned to meet Donald Trump later in September.
- Where
- The meetings involved Russia and Ukraine; a future trilateral meeting could be hosted by Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland or another country.
- Why
- The participants are seeking to revive stalled diplomacy and address issues including territory, grain shipments, energy infrastructure and prisoner exchanges.
Ukraine’s Diplomatic Position
Russia’s Territorial Position
Future of the Donbas
Ukraine’s Diplomatic Position
Ukraine continues to hold some territory in the eastern Donbas region and says it is ready for a compromise through negotiations.
Russia’s Territorial Position
Moscow claims the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas as its own, while the article says Russia has not captured it.
Peace-talk progress
Ukraine’s Diplomatic Position
Zelenskiy said the U.S. envoys brought worthwhile ideas and expressed gratitude for efforts to revive diplomacy.
Russia’s Territorial Position
The broader diplomatic process has been stalled for months, and the latest meetings did not produce a breakthrough on ending the war.
- U.S. negotiators
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Ukrainian president
- Volodymyr Zelenskiy
- Russian president
- Vladimir Putin
- Main obstacle
- Disagreement over the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern Donbas region
- Potential next meeting hosts
- Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland or other countries
- Possible discussion topics
- Grain shipments, energy infrastructure and prisoner-of-war exchanges
- Planned U.S. meeting
- Zelenskiy said he planned to meet Donald Trump later in September to discuss winter air-defense support