Putin Hosts Witkoff and Kushner at Kremlin for Ukraine Settlement Talks
Vladimir Putin has begun talks at the Kremlin with U.S. figures Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, described in Russian accounts as negotiators there to discuss a possible settlement of the war in Ukraine, in a meeting linked to a three‑day halt in Russian strikes on Kyiv.
An unusual U.S. delegation has arrived in Moscow for talks on the war in Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin casting them as key interlocutors.
On 5 September, Putin began a meeting at the Kremlin with U.S. figures Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Russian reports described them as U.S. negotiators and said Putin planned to discuss "all modalities" of a possible settlement to the conflict with Ukraine.
The meeting followed days of signaling from Moscow about the delegation’s arrival. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev posted a message welcoming the visitors to Moscow and referred to them as peacemakers.
Putin linked the talks to a short pause in strikes on the Ukrainian capital. He said Russian forces had not carried out strikes on Kyiv since midnight on 5 September and that this followed a request sent through official channels. He added that Russia had not agreed with Ukraine to any ceasefire lasting more than three days.
According to Russian state media reports, Witkoff thanked Putin for the three‑day pause in strikes on Kyiv, saying it allowed the U.S. side to organize its visit to Kyiv. Putin said Russia would do everything possible to ensure the safety of the talks and of mediators Witkoff and Kushner.
Russian accounts of the meeting also said the American side conveyed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s best wishes to Putin, and Putin said Trump continued efforts to contribute to a settlement.
The talks highlight a channel in which U.S. political and business figures meet directly with the Russian leader over the war, alongside formal diplomacy. Key signals to watch now include any public readout from the U.S. side, whether Ukrainian officials confirm meetings with the delegation, and whether the three‑day pause over Kyiv is extended or allowed to lapse.
Sources
- OSINT