US envoys travel to Moscow and Kyiv as Zelenskyy says talks are coming; Putin says there’s a ‘chance’ of peace

U.S. envoys led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held back-to-back meetings in Moscow and Kyiv this week as Washington seeks to revive negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said representatives of the U.S. president would visit Kyiv “in the coming days,” while Vladimir Putin told an economic forum there was “a chance” of reaching an agreement.

What happened

According to reporting, Witkoff and Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for a talks session that Russian aides described as “timely and useful” and lasting more than three hours. The two then traveled to Kyiv and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Zelenskyy said preliminary dates had been set and that he expected to see “representatives of the US president here in Kyiv” soon. Multiple outlets reported this was the envoys’ first visit to Ukraine after several trips to Moscow.

Claims and attributions

• “We expect to see representatives of the US president here in Kyiv,” Zelenskyy said in a nightly video address, and he said meetings in Moscow and Kyiv were expected “in the coming days.” (The Guardian)
• Russian officials including a Kremlin aide called the Moscow discussions constructive but said no final compromise had been reached; an aide said some U.S. proposals could be discussed further. (Seoul Economic Daily; DW)
• Speaking at an economic forum, Vladimir Putin said several countries — including the United States and China, he said — were prepared to support a settlement and that, “Is there a chance? In my view, yes, there is.” (The Guardian)
• U.S. President Donald Trump told GB News he wanted to see an end to the war and losses on both sides, and he has said he would seek repayment from European nations for U.S. military aid previously provided to Ukraine. (The Guardian)

Key sticking points reported

Reporting from several outlets indicates that territory and security guarantees remain the hardest issues to resolve. Russian officials reiterated long-standing positions on control over parts of eastern Ukraine, including the Donbas, while Ukrainian leaders have rejected demands to cede territory. DW and the Seoul Economic Daily cited territory and security guarantees as among the most difficult questions in talks mediated or facilitated by the U.S.

Military activity and precautions around the diplomacy

News reports noted continued fighting even as diplomatic work was under way. Outlets reported an agreement between the parties to refrain from striking each capital for a short period to allow meetings to proceed, but that strikes and drone attacks continued elsewhere. The Guardian and Seoul Economic Daily described recent strikes on infrastructure and attacks near major cities during the same period.

U.S. role and reactions

News outlets reported the Biden-era US-led mediation had been paused earlier in the year amid other foreign policy crises and that the Trump administration has taken a more hands-on approach by sending private-sector envoys. Coverage indicates Washington has been leading these efforts directly, visiting Moscow repeatedly and — until this week — not sending envoys to Kyiv. The Seoul Economic Daily and other reports said critics had questioned Washington’s balance for previously visiting Moscow far more than Kyiv.

Immediate next steps being reported

• Sources told the Kyiv Independent that President Trump was expected to be briefed by his envoys and to call Vladimir Putin first, then speak with President Zelenskyy; the calls were reported as likely on Sept. 7. The Kyiv Independent attributed that account to a U.S. official.
• Officials reported to outlets that discussions would continue in both capitals and that Washington hoped to return to trilateral negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. The White House described the Moscow talks as including “substantive plans for next steps,” though no breakthrough has been announced publicly. (Kyiv Independent; Seoul Economic Daily)

Context: why this matters to the United States

The United States is a central actor in diplomacy over the war in Ukraine: it has supplied military aid to Kyiv, mediated previous negotiation rounds, and now is directly engaging through envoys. Any U.S.-brokered agreement could affect American security assistance, NATO posture in Europe, and wider geopolitical relations with Russia and other powers the Kremlin mentions in support of talks. U.S. domestic politics also intersect: reporting cites President Trump’s stated priorities for ending the fighting and his comments on allied reimbursement for past aid.

What remains unresolved

• There is no public, verified deal or ceasefire resulting from the recent meetings; Russian officials said no compromise had been reached in Moscow. (DW; Seoul Economic Daily)
• Major substantive gaps persist on territory and security guarantees, according to reporting that cites all three capitals’ positions. (DW; Seoul Economic Daily; The Guardian)
• Independent confirmation that U.S. envoys’ visits will lead to a durable negotiation track or specific timelines for a summit between presidents has not been published; outlets report planned briefings and possible calls but no fixed outcomes yet. (Kyiv Independent; The Guardian)

Timeline of the recent diplomacy (reported)

1. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Moscow with Vladimir Putin; Russian aides described the session as lengthy and useful. (Seoul Economic Daily; DW)
2. The envoys traveled to Kyiv by train and met President Zelenskyy; Zelenskyy said preliminary dates were set for U.S. representatives to visit Kyiv “in the coming days.” (Seoul Economic Daily; The Guardian)
3. The White House and U.S. press reports said the Moscow talks included substantive plans for next steps, while Kremlin spokespeople said no final compromise had been reached. (Kyiv Independent; Seoul Economic Daily)
4. U.S. officials were reported to plan presidential phone calls following envoy briefings; a U.S. official told the Kyiv Independent the president would call Putin and Zelenskyy after being briefed. (Kyiv Independent)

Implications for readers in the United States

Any progress or breakdown in these talks could change U.S. decisions on military aid and munitions supply, which have been subjects of public comment by the U.S. president. A negotiated settlement—or prolonged stalemate—would have material effects on U.S. defense assistance spending, transatlantic relations, and regional stability in Europe. At this stage, reporting shows renewed diplomatic activity but not a confirmed agreement.

Unanswered questions to watch

• Will the U.S.-led discussions bridge differences on territorial issues and security guarantees that reporting says remain unresolved?
• Will Washington convene and coordinate European and NATO partners in a way they judge sufficient to protect Ukraine’s interests, given earlier criticism about limited European input?
• Will any briefings to the U.S. president produce near-term bilateral calls with Russia and Ukraine and, if so, what outcomes will be disclosed publicly?

“We expect to see representatives of the US president here in Kyiv,” Zelenskyy said, and Putin said, “Is there a chance? In my view, yes, there is.” (The Guardian)

Reporting for this article drew on contemporaneous accounts from The Guardian, Seoul Economic Daily, DW, the Kyiv Independent and others. Key claims about meetings, statements and proposed next steps are attributed to those outlets; no independent document or joint agreement has been published confirming a negotiated settlement at the time of writing.