On 5 September, important talks took place in the Kremlin between the US envoys Steve Whitcroft and Jared Kushner and the Russian leadership, with the aim of advancing a peace plan to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. These talks attracted the attention of the international community, as Russian President Vladimir Putin himself took part in them.
A White House spokesperson stated that the discussions were intensive and had resulted in concrete plans for further action, which would be revealed shortly. The meeting in Moscow concluded late in the evening, and shortly after midnight the American delegation left Russia. The next stage of their diplomatic mission was a round of talks in Kyiv, scheduled for 6 September.
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian President, described the talks as ‘substantive and constructive’. He noted that the American side had not only expressed an interest in a swift cessation of hostilities but had also put forward several ideas for resolving the conflict. However, Ushakov emphasised that Russia insists on addressing the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO and the disarmament of its armed forces.
US President Donald Trump had previously indicated that his envoys were prepared to propose a peace agreement to the Russian side, which would then be presented to Ukraine. He expressed hope that Washington might have a chance of achieving a peaceful settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the conversation with the American envoys and assured them that Kyiv was ready for substantive negotiations.
During his presidency, Donald Trump has made ending the war a priority of his foreign policy, but so far there has been no success in reaching an agreement. Nevertheless, the diplomatic mission by Whitcoff and Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv offers hope for a possible breakthrough in this protracted conflict.