US envoys visit Moscow and Kyiv to push for peace in Ukraine

American peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner conducted a diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv on September 5-6, 2026, aimed at ending the four-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine. The mission began with a three-hour meeting at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who characterized the talks as useful and constructive. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier signaled a temporary three-day ceasefire to facilitate these diplomatic movements, although fighting continues to pose risks.

Following the Moscow discussions, the envoys traveled to Kyiv to meet with President Zelensky and European representatives. The Ukrainian leadership noted that the Americans presented new, more effective proposals, though Zelensky expressed skepticism regarding immediate results, warning that the war might continue through the winter due to Russia's rigid stance on core territorial issues. While no formal peace agreement was reached, the Kremlin and the US delegation noted progress toward potentially resuming trilateral talks.

Moving forward, the White House is expected to announce further diplomatic steps within the coming weeks. The Kremlin has not ruled out future trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, and there are reports of possible upcoming discussions following the Russian parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18-20, 2026.