Archive · 6 Sep 2026
US Envoys Visit Kyiv After Putin Talks Renew Peace Push
Two American peace representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited Russia and Ukraine.
They first met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 5.
The meeting lasted more than three hours, but no clear peace agreement was announced.
The next day, they traveled by train to Kyiv for their first official visit there as negotiators.
They met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine wanted the war to end and needed strong promises for its future safety.
Russia and Ukraine discussed temporarily stopping attacks on their capitals.
However, fighting continued in other places, and officials reported different numbers of people killed and injured.
Some analysts and residents hoped the meetings could restart peace talks, while others were doubtful because earlier efforts had failed.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow for more than three hours on September 5, then traveled by train to Kyiv the following day.
The Moscow talks were described by Russian officials as useful, frank and substantive, but produced no publicly announced breakthrough.
The Kyiv visit was the envoys’ first official trip to Ukraine as negotiators and included meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for constructive negotiations focused on ending the war, security guarantees and a just, sustainable postwar peace.
Russia and Ukraine agreed or proposed a temporary pause on strikes against Kyiv and Moscow, but attacks continued elsewhere and reports differed on the overnight death toll.
- Who
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and US President Donald Trump.
- What
- A renewed US diplomatic effort sought to advance negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
- When
- The Moscow talks took place on September 5, 2026, and the Kyiv visit occurred on September 6, 2026.
- Where
- The envoys met Putin in Moscow and later met Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.
- Why
- The Trump administration was trying to revive stalled peace efforts as Russian and Ukrainian air attacks intensified.
Renewed Diplomatic Opportunity
Skepticism and Continued Pressure
Potential for progress
Renewed Diplomatic Opportunity
Some analysts said renewed US engagement was timely and could provide fresh momentum for negotiations during an escalation in hostilities.
Skepticism and Continued Pressure
People familiar with the Kremlin and Kyiv’s positions said expectations were low because earlier visits had produced little progress and the sides remained far apart.
Conditions for peace
Renewed Diplomatic Opportunity
The United States said its envoys were carrying an idea or proposal for ending the war, while Ukraine presented proposals emphasizing security guarantees and postwar peace.
Skepticism and Continued Pressure
Sources said Putin was prepared to end the war only on Russian terms, while Moscow remained committed to its military objectives and disagreements persisted over Donbas.
Ceasefire and military pressure
Renewed Diplomatic Opportunity
Russia and Ukraine expressed willingness to temporarily halt strikes on each other’s capitals to support the diplomatic process.
Skepticism and Continued Pressure
Fighting continued elsewhere, including air attacks during the proposed pause, while European officials said Ukraine still needed support to defend itself.
- US envoys
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented the United States in the diplomatic effort.
- Moscow talks
- Witkoff and Kushner met Vladimir Putin for more than three hours on September 5.
- Reported outcome
- Russian officials called the meeting useful, frank and substantive, but no breakthrough was announced.
- First Kyiv visit
- The September 6 trip was Witkoff and Kushner’s first official visit to Ukraine as US negotiators.
- Ukraine’s priorities
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine sought an end to the war, security guarantees and a just, sustainable postwar peace.
- Temporary strike pause
- Russia said it would pause strikes on Kyiv until Monday, while Ukraine said it would refrain from strikes on Moscow; attacks nevertheless continued elsewhere.
- Reported casualties
- One report said Ukrainian attacks killed one person and injured at least 10 others, while another said Russian strikes killed 10 people across Ukraine; Russian authorities also reported one death and one serious injury.
Sources
Putin tells US envoys war situation ‘Not Simple’ as talks begin
Witkoff, Kushner land in Kyiv after Putin talks, revive Trump’s push for Ukraine peace
US envoys make first Kyiv visit amid Ukraine war peace push