Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of talks in Moscow with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to discuss potential avenues for ending the war in Ukraine, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. While Ushakov described the negotiations as “timely and highly useful for both sides,” he gave no indication of any immediate diplomatic breakthrough or a finalized peace agreement.
U.S. Peace Push and Kremlin Discussions
The high-level meeting marked the first visit to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner since January, acting on behalf of President Donald Trump. According to Yuri Ushakov, the American envoys “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement” during the three-hour session.
Beyond the conflict itself, Ushakov stated that the delegations discussed economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects in some detail. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy who also attended the talks, posted on X that the visit was an “important peacemaking visit.” President Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict, stating in televised remarks that the U.S. leader “does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement” despite entering a difficult diplomatic situation.
Temporary Security Guarantees and Air War
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin ordered the Russian military not to strike Kyiv for three days to ensure the safety of the U.S. negotiators.
The pause in strikes on Kyiv contrasted with intense aerial campaigns over the preceding ten days, during which Russia regularly targeted the Ukrainian capital with missiles and drones, including an attack on the headquarters of the SBU security service. In parallel, Ukraine has maintained long-range strikes throughout the summer against Russian oil refineries, terminals, and warehouses of online retailer Wildberries to increase the economic cost of the invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Kyiv was prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday as the diplomatic outreach continues.
Entrenched Positions and Territorial Disputes
Despite the diplomatic engagement, a vast gulf remains between Moscow and Kyiv regarding the terms for ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. During the talks, Putin told the U.S. envoys that Russia was making real progress on the battlefield, remained confident of achieving its goals, and stressed the necessity of addressing the root causes of the conflict.
A source close to the Kremlin reported that Putin remains intent on capturing more territory, stating that there is no chance of reaching a front-line agreement until Russian forces finish securing the remaining portions of the Donetsk region. Western military analysts view that possibility as remote given the slow pace of recent advances. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to reject surrendering defended territory as tantamount to surrender, echoing the Kremlin’s restated position that Kyiv must cede the entire territory of four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its plans to join NATO.
Next Steps in Kyiv
Following their departure from Moscow on Saturday, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday. The discussions in Ukraine aim to bridge the substantial gap between the opposing sides.
Worth a look