US envoys express optimism after Moscow and Kyiv talks on Ukraine peace
Quick Look
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, expressing hope for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict and suggesting a trilateral meeting may be announced soon.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Ukraine conflict has persisted since 2022, with previous diplomatic efforts failing to achieve a lasting settlement. The Trump administration has renewed engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv as part of a broader peace initiative.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff has expressed optimism about Washington’s renewed efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict following talks in both Moscow and Kiev, saying the Trump administration hopes to find a diplomatic solution.
Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday, a day after holding more than three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Sunday’s trip marked the US envoys’ first official visit to the Ukrainian capital as part of Washington’s peace efforts.
Witkoff said on Sunday that he “felt good” about the discussions in both capitals and that Washington hopes diplomacy can bring an end to the conflict. He also suggested that direct talks involving all three sides could take place soon, pointing to “a trilateral that we’re hopeful will be announced in short order.”
The latest diplomatic push began in Moscow on Saturday, where Putin received Witkoff and Kushner for talks lasting just over three hours. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov later described the meeting as “substantive, constructive, extremely candid, and trusting.”
According to Ushakov, the American envoys presented several ideas on possible paths toward a settlement, while Putin reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue working with Washington to seek a political and diplomatic solution. The Russian leader also stressed that any lasting agreement would have to address what Moscow describes as the root causes of the conflict.
According to an Axios source familiar with the meetings, during the talks in Kiev on Sunday Zelensky discussed Ukrainian preparations for continuing the war through the winter, while Kushner and Witkoff stressed they want a breakthrough before then.
A White House official also told Axios the Moscow discussions were substantive, saying the two sides had discussed plans for the next steps that are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has earlier thanked Trump for his efforts to help resolve the conflict, saying the US president continued seeking a settlement despite the difficulty of the situation. Putin also reiterated Moscow’s commitment to refrain from strikes on Kiev during a three-day period beginning at midnight on September 5, intended to allow the US envoys to travel safely to the Ukrainian capital.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
A trilateral meeting involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine will be announced in the coming weeks.
Likely · Within weeks
Further diplomatic talks between US and Russian officials will occur before winter.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific proposals were discussed in the Moscow and Kyiv talks?
- When and where might the proposed trilateral meeting take place?
- What are the root causes of the conflict as defined by Moscow?
- What concessions, if any, are each side willing to make?
