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U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held more than three hours-long talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 5, 2026, as Washington sought to revive stalled efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

The meeting at the Kremlin ended without any immediate announcement of a breakthrough, but Russian officials described the discussions as constructive and useful. The talks focused on possible ways to settle, while also covering economic issues and potential future projects between Russia and the United States.

The meeting came as Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange heavy long-range attacks. At the same time, both sides agreed to temporarily pause strikes against each other’s capitals during the diplomatic effort.

Putin told the U.S. envoys at the beginning of the meeting that the situation surrounding the conflict was difficult. “The situation is of course not simple,” Putin said in footage broadcast by Russian state media.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov later said the talks were “highly useful” and that Witkoff and Kushner had presented several ideas concerning possible paths toward a settlement.

Ushakov did not provide details of the proposals. He said Putin gave the U.S. representatives Russia’s assessment of the battlefield situation and stressed Moscow’s view that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed.

💬 Russia's President Vladimir Putin to @SEPeaceMissions @SteveWitkoff & entrepreneur, founder of Affinity Partners @jaredkushner:

We have very high level of trust.

🤝 We are glad to see you. Welcome.https://t.co/jExkS31Mb3 pic.twitter.com/ebByh2bQ0h

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) September 6, 2026

Trump Says US Wants Peace

The Moscow talks followed President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were traveling to Russia with a new proposal aimed at ending the war.

Trump did not disclose the details of the proposal or say whether it would involve Ukraine giving territory to Russia, an issue that has remained one of the most difficult questions in negotiations. “We have an idea for peace,” Trump said.

The White House said the two envoys discussed “substantive plans” with Putin concerning the next steps toward ending the war. It said further details would be announced next week.

The White House also said Witkoff and Kushner were expected to continue their diplomatic efforts in Ukraine.

Their trip to Moscow was their first known visit to Russia since January, when they also met Putin at the Kremlin. The latest visit comes after months of limited progress in U.S.-backed efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement.

Putin also praised Trump’s efforts at the beginning of Saturday’s meeting. “Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said.

Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who attended the meeting alongside Ushakov, described the visit as an important effort to promote peace.

Russia and Ukraine Agree to Pause Strikes

The diplomatic discussions were accompanied by a temporary reduction in attacks against the two capitals. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to conduct strikes against Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight Saturday.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight today,” Peskov said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared to make a similar commitment regarding Moscow. “From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Witkoff and Kushner after their arrival in Moscow and that Ukraine was ready to observe a pause in airstrikes against cities connected to the negotiations.

The temporary measures came after a period of particularly intense aerial attacks. Russia has repeatedly targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, while Ukraine has expanded its long-range strikes against targets inside Russia.

US Envoys’ First Kyiv Visit

After their Moscow meetings, Witkoff and Kushner travelled to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Zelenskyy. The visit would mark their first trip to the Ukrainian capital during the current peace process.

Zelenskyy announced the envoy’s visit and said he had remained in contact with the U.S. delegation. The planned Kyiv trip comes at a sensitive moment for the diplomatic effort.

Although U.S. representatives have traveled to Moscow to meet Russian officials, the peace process has yet to produce an agreement acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelenskyy also linked recent Russian attacks on Kyiv and the Boryspil international airport to preparations for the U.S. delegation’s possible flight to Ukraine.

“Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that Ukraine had taken note of the Russian actions and would adjust its operations regarding Russian airspace. “Of course, there are and will be no threats to diplomacy from our side,” Zelenskyy said.

Russia and Ukraine Remain Far Apart

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, Russia and Ukraine remain divided over the fundamental terms of a potential peace agreement. The Kremlin has repeatedly demanded that the underlying causes of the conflict be addressed and has maintained its position on territory and Ukraine’s future security arrangements.

Russia has claimed four Ukrainian regions and has demanded that Ukraine give up territory it does not currently control. Moscow has also opposed Ukraine’s plans to join NATO. The Kremlin said that Putin’s position, outlined in a speech two years ago, remained “unshakeable.”

Ukraine, meanwhile, has rejected territorial concessions that it considers equivalent to surrender. Kyiv has also continued military operations against Russian targets in an effort to weaken Moscow’s ability to wage war.

The battlefield itself has changed relatively slowly despite the intensification of long-range attacks. The front line stretches for about 1,250 kilometers, while neither side has achieved a decisive breakthrough.

A source close to the Kremlin said Putin remained determined to capture additional territory and believed Russia could secure the remaining part of the Donetsk region by the end of the year. Western military analysts have considered such an outcome difficult because of Russia’s slow rate of advance.

The differences over territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO remain major obstacles to a settlement.

Attacks Continue Despite Diplomacy

The diplomatic activity took place as Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to launch attacks against targets deep inside each other’s territory. Russia has recently intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has faced repeated strikes, including attacks that have reached important government and security facilities.

A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service, known as the SBU, in Kyiv on Friday. The agency is involved in Ukraine’s deep-strike operations against targets inside Russia.

Ukrainian forces have also targeted Russian military facilities, oil refineries, warehouses and other infrastructure. Kyiv has sought to raise the economic and military costs of Russia’s continued war effort.

In Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian attacks killed five people and wounded five others at an industrial facility, according to local authorities. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had targeted two metallurgical plants in the region, describing them as important suppliers of metal products for Ukraine’s military production.

Russian attacks also caused casualties and damage in other parts of Ukraine. In the Kharkiv region, a Russian drone struck a house in Chuhuiv, killing three people and wounding another, according to local authorities. The victims included a 19-year-old woman, an 11-year-old boy and a 45-year-old man.

Two people were also killed and another wounded in a Russian drone attack in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region, local officials said.

In the Mykolaiv region, Russian drones repeatedly struck a shopping center, damaging retail facilities and causing fires. Emergency workers responding to the attack were forced to withdraw several times because of the threat of additional strikes.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched ballistic missiles and 167 attack drones during an overnight assault. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 128 of the drones, according to the Ukrainian military.

Russia also reported Ukrainian attacks. Local officials in Russia’s Belgorod region said Ukrainian strikes killed two people and wounded others. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had shot down 53 Ukrainian drones overnight.