In an unprecedented diplomatic move since the start of the war, White House special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff carried out a high-level peace mission that included meetings with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. The tour, which took place between September 5 and 7, 2026, aimed to revive a stalled dialogue and lay the groundwork for a potential ceasefire.
Meeting in Moscow: A First Step
On Saturday, September 5, Kushner and Witkoff met at the Grand Kremlin Palace with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top advisors. According to DW News, the meeting lasted about three hours and focused on the peace proposal that Trump's team seeks to advance. President Donald Trump had previously indicated that his envoys carried a concrete proposal to end the conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the contacts as a "small step toward peace" and did not rule out resuming trilateral negotiations between Moscow, Kiev, and Washington. This marks a subtle shift in Russian rhetoric, which had previously been reluctant to accept U.S. mediation.
Kiev: First Official Visit by Trump Envoys
The following day, Sunday, September 6, the U.S. envoys traveled to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was the first official visit by representatives of the U.S. government to the Ukrainian capital since Trump began his second term. The meeting also included national security advisors from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, underscoring European interest in the process.
Zelensky welcomed the talks but made clear that the most complex issues, such as the status of the Donbas region and territorial questions, can only be resolved at the leadership level. The Ukrainian leader also anticipated that, despite diplomatic efforts, the war is likely to continue through another winter.
Three-Day Truce: A Symbolic Gesture
One of the most concrete outcomes of the mission was an agreement between Putin and Zelensky to suspend airstrikes on Moscow and Kiev for three days to facilitate the mediators' visit. Although limited, the truce was seen as a gesture of goodwill by both sides.
However, the truce did not prevent nighttime attacks in other regions. Reports indicate that Russia launched 108 drones and missiles against Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces neutralized 258 Russian drones. In the city of Chuhuiv, three people were killed, and in Russia's Belgorod region, one civilian lost their life.
Commitments to Support Ukraine
During the meetings in Kiev, a series of additional support measures for Ukraine were agreed upon, including:
- Air defense: supply of interceptors for Patriot systems.
- Energy system: assistance to repair and strengthen Ukraine's power grid, damaged by Russian attacks.
- Liquefied natural gas (LNG): additional U.S. LNG supplies to reduce energy dependence on Russia.
Additionally, it was agreed to repeat the trilateral meeting between the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine in the coming weeks, suggesting that the dialogue will continue.
Reactions and Outlook
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff stated that both sides must make "concessions" and reduce differences to move toward an agreement. For his part, Jared Kushner mentioned they are working on a comprehensive "peace package".
On Monday, September 7, the Kremlin reacted to the visit, and possible phone calls between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky were reported, though not officially confirmed. The mission did not achieve a concrete peace deal or a definitive rapprochement of positions, but it set an important precedent: for the first time in months, Moscow and Kiev sat at the same table with U.S. mediators.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, continues to claim lives and cause massive displacement. The international community watches these developments with caution, hoping that the dialogue can translate into lasting peace.