Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that U.S. envoys visiting Kyiv presented "very good, worthwhile ideas" for resolving the conflict with Russia and expressed his hope for a meeting with President Donald Trump within two weeks.
Despite the diplomatic discussions, Russian forces resumed aerial attacks on Ukraine, resulting in at least three civilian deaths and 16 injuries in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials. Russian authorities reported three fatalities and 13 wounded in Moscow-controlled territories.
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoys, held separate talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend. The meetings did not yield a significant breakthrough to de-escalate the fighting.
Zelensky indicated he anticipates meeting with Trump around September 20, coinciding with the UN General Assembly in New York. He plans to urge Trump to provide additional Patriot air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian leader thanked U.S. officials for their efforts to restart negotiations, which have been stalled since the beginning of the year.
"As for the peace package that Kushner spoke about and the new ideas, I’ll tell you frankly, there were indeed a couple of very good, worthwhile ideas," Zelensky said in audio messages responding to reporters' questions. He indicated that these proposals would remain undisclosed for now but expressed optimism for trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. in the fall.
Ukraine is prepared to seek compromise on grain exports and energy issues, Zelensky added. Both nations have previously targeted each other's grain shipments in the Black Sea, impacting global supply, and have attacked energy infrastructure.
Conversely, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is determined to achieve its objectives in Ukraine and believes it is nearing victory. "We’re convinced the victory is very close. We’re very confident in our military potential," Peskov told reporters, while also asserting Russia's desire for a peaceful resolution and welcoming Trump's diplomatic engagement.
Western officials and analysts, however, suggest that Russia's military progress has been limited on the 800-mile front line, despite its larger army, as it attempts to secure the eastern Donetsk region. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported that at Russia's current pace, capturing Donetsk could take until 2032, if achievable at all, and that the rate of advance has significantly slowed since 2025.
Amid battlefield stagnation, both sides have escalated aerial bombardments. Russia's primary targets in its overnight attack included Kyiv and the southern Odesa region. In Kyiv, over 50 sites were damaged, including residential buildings, schools, and commercial properties. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as "horrific" and accused Putin of undermining peace efforts, stating, "His ballistic missiles speak louder than his words on diplomacy."
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its strikes targeted Ukrainian military industry facilities, including sites storing drones, cruise missiles, and military cargo transport and logistics centers in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Infrastructure at the port of Chornomorsk in Odesa, used for unloading military cargo, was also reportedly hit.
