Putin receives Trump's envoys in Moscow for Ukraine talks
Quick Look
- New talks on the Ukraine war between Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, scheduled at short notice, have begun in Moscow.
- Putin received US President Donald Trump's envoys in the Kremlin.
- He ordered a three-day ceasefire for Kiev to enable negotiators to visit the Ukrainian capital.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The talks between Putin and Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner took place in the Kremlin in Moscow after a resumption of negotiations had initially been announced by Ukrainian President Zelensky. The Kremlin had waited for US representatives to arrive before confirming the talks. Putin ordered a three-day ceasefire in Kiev to allow negotiators to visit the Ukrainian capital. Previous talks between the parties had stalled and stopped as Witkoff and Kushner were preoccupied with Trump's Iran policy.
New talks on the Ukraine war between Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner began in Moscow in the evening. Putin received US President Donald Trump's two envoys in the Kremlin, state media reported. Putin therefore said that there were no easy talks. He also sent his best wishes to Trump.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov only confirmed the resumption of negotiations, initially announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Kushner arrived in Moscow. Accordingly, the US negotiators have new proposals in their luggage. Peskov did not give any details. The Kremlin wants to inform the public following the talks.
Three-day ceasefire should enable visitors to Kyiv
Putin has ordered a three-day ceasefire in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. It is intended to ensure that Witkoff and Kushner, who have already been to Russia several times for talks, can visit Kiev for the first time. The Kremlin chief had kept them waiting all day. He put a new metro line in Moscow and a new huge oil terminal and pipeline in Siberia into operation via video link, and he also met top candidates from the Kremlin party United Russia before the parliamentary elections from September 18th to 20th.
Zelenskyj confirmed that he was expecting Trump's two envoys in Kiev this Sunday. The Ukrainian President confirmed his earlier statements that the three-day ceasefire was already in force from the Ukrainian perspective. He hopes that Putin will also stick to his own announcement of the ceasefire.
The previous talks between Putin and Trump's envoys also led to direct negotiations between Russians and Ukrainians. However, they first stalled and then were stopped because Witkoff and Kushner have been preoccupied with Trump's war against Iran in recent months. Since Russia is supporting Iran in the conflict, experts close to the Kremlin speculated whether Witkoff and Kushner might also address the issue of Iran.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Talks between Putin and Trump's envoys will continue in the next few days and could lead to an extension of the ceasefire.
Likely · Within days
If the ceasefire holds, Witkoff and Kushner could visit Kiev for the first time since the start of the war.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific suggestions did Witkoff and Kushner bring to the discussions?
- How will the three-day ceasefire in Kyiv be monitored and enforced?
- Will the issue of Iran be addressed in the negotiations and, if necessary, Russia's support for it?
- How long should the ceasefire actually last and what conditions are attached to it?
