Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin as Washington stepped up efforts to revive stalled negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting in Moscow on September 5 lasted for more than three hours and focused on possible pathways toward a settlement, with the US delegation presenting several ideas for moving the peace process forward.
The Kremlin described the discussions as constructive, frank and useful, but no concrete breakthrough or agreement was announced. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the US representatives had put forward a number of considerations on a possible settlement and that the discussions could contribute to further diplomatic engagement.
Putin also praised US President Donald Trump’s continued efforts to find a solution to the conflict. During the meeting, the Russian president described the situation surrounding the war as difficult and said Moscow remained prepared to discuss the various aspects of the conflict with the American representatives.
The talks were accompanied by a temporary reduction in strikes involving Kyiv and Moscow to facilitate the diplomatic activity. Russia ordered a temporary suspension of strikes on Kyiv, while Ukraine also indicated its readiness to reduce attacks against Moscow during the US delegation’s diplomatic engagement. However, Moscow stopped short of accepting a wider three-day ceasefire.
Following the Moscow meeting, Witkoff and Kushner travelled to Kyiv for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Their visit marked another important step in Washington’s latest attempt to bring the two sides back toward negotiations. The discussions in Kyiv were described as substantive, with issues including the potential peace process, security assistance and support for Ukraine ahead of the winter period.
Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, significant obstacles remain. Russia and Ukraine continue to hold sharply different positions over territory, security guarantees and the future of Ukraine’s relationship with NATO. Moscow has maintained demands concerning territories it claims, while Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions and continues to seek firm security guarantees from its international partners.
The latest diplomatic push therefore represents a renewed opportunity for dialogue rather than an immediate peace agreement. US officials have indicated that further steps could follow in the coming weeks, while both Moscow and Kyiv remain under pressure from the continuing military conflict. The outcome of the latest US diplomatic initiative could determine whether direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations can be revived or whether fighting will continue without a near-term political settlement.