# Trump Envoys Push Updated Ukraine Peace Drafts as Zelensky Refuses to Cede Donbas *Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk* **Published**: 2026-09-06T18:06:25.198Z (2h ago) **Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Eastern Europe **Importance**: 10/10 **Sources**: OSINT **Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/17073.md **Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries --- **Deck**: Unofficial envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump are shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv with updated versions of earlier peace proposals, while President Volodymyr Zelensky insists Ukraine’s stance on Donbas is unchanged and warns the war is likely to continue into winter. The latest Ukraine peace initiative is unfolding against the expectation of another winter of fighting. Unofficial envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump have been moving between Moscow and Kyiv with revised versions of earlier draft peace plans, while President Volodymyr Zelensky has underlined that Ukraine’s position on Donbas remains unchanged and that the war appears likely to continue into the colder months. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, described by Zelensky as representatives of the U.S. president, have held several rounds of talks in Kyiv after earlier meetings with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Witkoff has said he is satisfied with the outcome of discussions in both cities, while Kushner has spoken of work on a U.S. “peace package.” Kushner has also indicated that Washington wants to revive a Russia–Ukraine–U.S. negotiating format. According to reporting based on sources familiar with the negotiations, Witkoff and Kushner brought updated documents rather than entirely new blueprints. Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller wrote that these drafts were revised to reflect changes since talks stalled in February, when the U.S. conflict with Iran began. Those sources described the latest visit as an effort to revive previous proposals and narrow gaps between Ukraine and Russia, rather than to introduce many new ideas. The details of the drafts have not been made public. Zelensky, however, has stressed that Donbas is a non‑negotiable issue for Kyiv at this stage. He has said that Ukraine’s stance on the region “remains unchanged,” and has called the question of Donbas the central issue of the war and of its eventual outcome. In his view, without strong positions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield, negotiations risk turning into ultimatums. The diplomatic moves are unfolding as Ukraine prepares for continued hostilities. Zelensky has said that the war is likely to go on into winter, and that Ukraine is counting on a winter support package from the United States if that happens. He has also said that U.S. and Ukrainian teams have discussed supplies of air‑defense missiles and winter aid. Air defense is at the core of those preparations. Zelensky has announced that a Ukrainian anti‑ballistic system should be ready in the near future. He has also said that the American side will increase production of Patriot anti‑ballistic missiles next year, and that Ukraine expects to need them even if active fighting ends, in order to maintain security. In parallel, Zelensky has described meetings with representatives of more than 60 companies that produce systems to defeat explosive drones, saying that several have already shown results. On the Russian side, media reports have said that Putin is willing to discuss all aspects of resolving the conflict to achieve what he calls a long and absolute peace. Axios has reported that, despite Kremlin pessimism about the latest visit by Trump’s envoys, Russian representatives still see some value in this track and are not closing the door on it. Inside Ukraine, the visit has drawn sharp questioning. Journalist Dmytro Gordon asked Witkoff whether he felt he was being misled by Putin and whether he was uncomfortable negotiating with a leader widely accused in Ukraine of responsibility for war crimes. At the same time, Witkoff has emphasized that he has made multiple visits to Moscow, that he and Kushner were treated respectfully by Putin and his team, and that relationships with both sides are, in his view, critical for resolving the conflict. The talks themselves have been described as substantive. Axios reported that Trump’s envoys hope to achieve a breakthrough before winter and that they were encouraged by the content of the second round of discussions, believing there is room for further progress on an updated peace proposal. According to Miller, however, sources say that truly new ideas are limited and that the current effort largely seeks to re‑energize previous drafts. Zelensky has framed the current moment as one where Ukrainian military performance and diplomacy are closely linked. He has said that the constant terror of recent days is a new tactic by Putin ahead of elections and promised that Ukraine will respond. He has also argued that only a strong Ukrainian position on the battlefield makes genuine diplomacy possible. The next concrete signals will be whether, as some Ukrainian outlets have reported, Trump holds phone calls with Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Kyiv after his envoys brief him on the latest rounds of talks, and whether any side begins to outline public parameters for a possible agreement on Donbas and wider security issues.