US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded over three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sept. 5, following Kremlin orders for a three-day pause in strikes on Kyiv. The negotiations, which included a business lunch with Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, aim to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, with both sides poised to travel to Kyiv for further discussions.
Putin described the situation as 'not easy' during the talks, praising US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the conflict. He confirmed Russian forces had not struck Kyiv since midnight and noted reduced Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. Ukraine proposed a broader ceasefire, but Putin stated Russia had not agreed to it, while Russian drones continued strikes across Ukraine, killing at least three people.
The ceasefire announcement marks a tentative step toward diplomacy, but deep divisions persist. Russia remains intent on capturing the entirety of the Donetsk region, with a Kremlin source asserting no agreement on front lines is possible until this occurs. Ukraine, meanwhile, has committed to halting strikes on Moscow through Sept. 7, though its Foreign Minister condemned a recent drone attack on Kyiv’s security service as an 'escalation.'
Disagreement over territorial concessions and NATO expansion underscores the stalemate. Putin reiterated Russia’s 'unshakeable' position that Ukraine must cede four occupied regions and abandon its NATO aspirations. Analysts note Russia’s slow progress in Donbas and Ukraine’s refusal to surrender defended territory complicate negotiations, with both sides maintaining maximalist demands despite ongoing drone and airstrike activity.