Full Breakdown
US Envoys Push New Diplomatic Push in Moscow and Kyiv
9/7/2026, 8:01:58 AM
Diplomatic Visits and Immediate Outcomes
On September 6, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and former White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv for their first talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following a three-hour meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous day. Both sides agreed to a temporary cease-fire on each other’s capitals to allow the envoys to travel safely. The U.S. team said the talks were “encouraging” but produced no breakthrough on a settlement.
Background to the Trump-Led Initiative
The visits are part of President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to broker a peace deal after months of focus on the war in Iran. The delegation also included officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Treasury, indicating that sanctions and economic measures were likely on the agenda.
Data on Ongoing Air Strikes
During the diplomatic window, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 108 long-range drones and missiles overnight, of which 82 drones and six missiles were intercepted, leaving 11 locations hit. The Russian Defence Ministry later claimed to have shot down 400 drones in the preceding 24 hours and to have struck a Ukrainian cargo vessel in the Black Sea.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Putin told the envoys, “We will do everything that depends on us to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators such as yourselves.”
- The U.S.
Criticism & Opposition
Alexey Muraviev, a senior research fellow at Edith Cowan University, warned that “the view in Ukraine is that Witkoff, and to some extent Kushner, are most susceptible to accepting Russia’s narrative.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will do everything that depends on us to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and mediators such as yourselves,” — Vladimir Putin, talks with president
- “We're confident there'll be a good resolution here,” — Steve Witkoff
- “We are all on the same side. We all want the war to end,” — Volodymyr Zelensky, ukrainian president
- “The view in Ukraine [is] that Witkoff, and to some extent Kushner, are most susceptible to accepting Russia’s narrative,” — Alexey Muraviev
- “There are growing concerns about the level of Ukraine’s resilience given the collateral damage that the Russian attacks have caused to Ukraine’s infrastructure ahead of the incoming winter,” — Alexey Muraviev
What’s Next
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that Moscow has not ruled out a trilateral meeting with the United States and China, while Trump is expected to meet Putin at the APEC summit in China later this year. The U.S. team said follow-up talks involving Ukraine, the United States and European partners will be scheduled, though a venue has not yet been set.
