Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Saturday, September 5, 2026, telling the American delegation that the situation in Ukraine is difficult
as Washington pushes for a renewed peace settlement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held approximately three hours of discussions in Moscow on Saturday with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as Washington launched another push to revive stalled negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The high-level diplomatic mission arrives at a complex juncture, with peace talks at a standstill and both sides continuing intense aerial bombardments.
Kremlin Talks and the U.S. Peace Proposal
Putin opened the Kremlin meeting by acknowledging the heavy diplomatic lift facing the American negotiators. Putin told the visiting envoys that the situation in Ukraine was difficult
.
Trump stated on Friday that the United States had presented a fresh proposal aimed at ending the conflict, though he provided no specific details on the plan.
Putin was flanked during the three-hour session by foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev had earlier greeted Witkoff and Kushner at the airport, accompanying them to a restaurant before heading to the Kremlin. Witkoff expressed gratitude to the Russian president for hosting the delegation, calling the meetings among the most memorable ever, while Putin remarked that Witkoff and Kushner had gained Moscow’s trust, noting that for us, working with them is comfortable.
Limited Ceasefire Pledges Ahead of Kyiv Visit
As part of the diplomatic preparations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Putin ordered a three-day halt to strikes against Kyiv, taking effect at midnight on Saturday to coincide with the U.S. delegation’s upcoming travel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that he spoke with Witkoff and Kushner following their arrival in Moscow, stating that Ukraine was prepared to reciprocate the gesture. Zelenskiy declared that from Saturday through Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, expecting Russian forces to honor the same restraint regarding Kyiv.
While Putin noted that the intensity of Ukrainian attacks had decreased and promised to ensure the safety of the negotiators, Moscow did not agree to a broader three-day ceasefire across the entire war zone. Following their discussions in Moscow, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to travel on Sunday to Kyiv for their visit to the Ukrainian capital during the peace process.
A Vast Gulf in Positions and Ongoing Attacks
Despite the diplomatic outreach, a deep divide persists between Moscow and Kyiv regarding the terms for ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. The Kremlin reiterated on Friday that Putin’s core peace demands—set out in a speech two years ago—remain unshakeable.
A source close to the Kremlin reported that Putin remains intent on capturing additional territory, asserting that there is no chance of a frontline agreement until Russia secures the remaining portion of the Donetsk region. Conversely, Ukraine rejects such terms as tantamount to surrender.
The diplomatic push coincides with continued military engagements. The Russian Defence Ministry reported detecting 53 Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace on Saturday as Moscow marked City Day celebrations. Meanwhile, local authorities reported that Russian strikes killed five people at an industrial facility in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, while aerial attacks and missile strikes continued to target infrastructure across the country.
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