MOSCOW Sept 5, 2026 — Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded nearly three hours of talks Saturday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, as Washington pressed a new effort to end the war in Ukraine.
The meeting at the Kremlin followed the envoys’ arrival earlier in the day and earlier discussions with Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. It marked the sixth encounter between Putin and the U.S. mediators since U.S.-led talks on a settlement began. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov and Dmitriev also attended.
Trump said Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were traveling with “a proposal to end the war,” without publicly detailing its contents. The pair are expected in Kyiv on Sunday for their first visit to the Ukrainian capital, where they plan to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Putin opened the session by describing the situation as “difficult” and “not simple.” He asked the envoys to convey best wishes and gratitude to Trump, praising the U.S. president for continuing efforts “to contribute to the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict” despite a challenging position.
“Contacts of this kind are certainly always beneficial,” Putin said. “The quality of mediation and trust in those who are engaged in it are very important. We find it comfortable to work with you, and of course we have a very high level of trust.”
Witkoff thanked Putin for the reception and for facilitating a limited pause in strikes. He relayed Trump’s regards and expressed gratitude over the earlier release of former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman. “When we retire, we’ll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all,” Witkoff told Putin.
To enable the shuttle diplomacy, Russia halted airstrikes on Kyiv starting at midnight September 5. Ukraine significantly reduced its strikes on Russian territory, including Moscow. Putin said the request had come through official channels, including intelligence services and the Foreign Ministry. He emphasized that Russia had not agreed to Ukraine’s proposal for a broader three-day frontline ceasefire. “We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and the mediators,” he said.
Ushakov later described the talks as “substantive, very frank, and constructive.” He said the U.S. side presented its position and put forward ideas on possible paths to a settlement, and that the envoys would convey Putin’s views to Ukrainian leaders in Kyiv. The Kremlin has repeatedly called its core demands “unshakeable”: Ukraine’s withdrawal from the entirety of four regions Russia claims and abandonment of NATO membership.
Sources close to the Kremlin have expressed low expectations, noting that previous rounds produced little movement and that Moscow believes it holds the military advantage. Fighting continues along the front even as the limited pause on the two capitals takes effect.
The war, now in its fifth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has seen intensified long-range strikes in recent months. The U.S. mediation effort seeks to revive direct negotiations that stalled earlier this year.
Witkoff and Kushner departed Moscow after the late-evening meeting and are due in Kyiv Sunday. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready for a “substantive conversation.” Whether the latest U.S. proposal narrows the gap on territory, security guarantees, and other core issues remains to be seen.
Putin greets Kushner as Witkoff and Russian officials look on during the Kremlin meeting.
The delegations seated for talks in an ornate Kremlin hall.
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