U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday, September 6, 2026, as the Trump administration continued its push to resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting followed three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.
Kushner and Witkoff's visit to Kyiv marks their first trip to the Ukrainian capital in their capacity as U.S. negotiators, although they have visited Moscow multiple times previously. Their diplomatic efforts come as President Donald Trump has indicated the U.S. has a new proposal for peace, though details remain undisclosed.
Putin described his Saturday meeting with the U.S. envoys as "highly useful." A White House official told Reuters that further steps would be announced in the coming weeks. Zelensky, who views Washington as critical to any peace agreement, has expressed a desire to reach a resolution before the upcoming U.S. presidential election cycle intensifies next summer.
Prior to the envoys' arrival, Zelensky stated on social media that Ukraine was seeking an end to the war and emphasized the need for security guarantees and a "dignified post-war peace." Ukraine has prepared its proposals for such an agreement.
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that national security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany were also present in Kyiv on Sunday, though their specific meeting participation was not detailed. The presence of multiple international actors underscores the ongoing diplomatic engagement surrounding the conflict.
On the streets of Kyiv, some residents expressed cautious optimism. Military veteran Stepan Yermak stated, "The issue can be solved in the blink of an eye. We want peace. I’ve fought myself, so I know what war is like. We need peace, because there’s no other way." Another resident, 19-year-old cafe worker Svitlana Kurylenko, said, "We need an agreement that will never be broken. Just leave Ukraine alone and let people live in peace."
Despite the diplomatic talks, the conflict's front lines have remained largely static. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have recently intensified long-range air strikes. Russia has conducted numerous missile and drone attacks on Kyiv over the past two weeks, including a strike on the SBU security service headquarters. Both sides have reportedly agreed to a temporary halt in strikes on Kyiv and Moscow, respectively, until Monday. However, fighting continued along the 1,200-km (750-mile) front, with Russia bombarding other Ukrainian cities on Saturday.
Ukraine has conducted its own strikes targeting Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and warehouses, aiming to increase the cost of the war for Moscow. On Sunday, Ukraine reported striking the Ryazan oil refinery, approximately 480 km (300 miles) inside Russia, causing a fire.
Previous rounds of U.S.-mediated talks have faced significant challenges, with the sides remaining distant on key issues, particularly concerning the future of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Russia has insisted on Ukraine's withdrawal from towns it controls in the area, a demand Kyiv has rejected.