By Anthony Marcus for Eurasia Business News, September 5, 2026. Article n°3147
Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin
Photo: press service of the President of the Russian Federation
The Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on September 5, as Washington sought to revive stalled negotiations over Russia’s war in Ukraine. The talks coincided with a limited three-day pause in strikes on Kyiv and Moscow, intended to enable the U.S. delegation to travel safely between the Russian and Ukrainian capitals.
Putin described the situation around Ukraine as “difficult” but said Russia was ready to present its view of the conflict and continue contacts with the United States. The Kremlin said the closed-door meeting lasted around three hours and involved senior Russian officials Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev.
Putin Signals Readiness for Contacts
Putin opened the Kremlin meeting by asking Witkoff and Kushner to convey his thanks to President Donald Trump for the U.S. administration’s efforts to encourage a resolution of the conflict. He said Moscow trusted the two American representatives as intermediaries and described direct contacts as beneficial.
“We are ready to inform the American side of our understanding of the current situation and prospects for a settlement,” Putin said, according to the official Kremlin transcript. He added that Russia was prepared to continue communication with Washington on possible diplomatic avenues.
The meeting was part of a broader U.S. diplomatic effort. Witkoff and Kushner were expected to travel to Kyiv after their Moscow discussions, where they would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and present Russia’s position on possible steps toward a lasting political settlement.
Steve Witkoff has held seven meetings with Vladimir Putin since Donald Trump took office as President of the United States in 2025. The last talks took place on January 22 in the Kremlin.
Three-Day Pause in Kyiv and Moscow Strikes
A central feature of the visit was a temporary pause in attacks on the two capitals. Putin said Russia received the request to halt strikes on Kyiv through official channels, including intelligence and foreign-ministry contacts. He said he ordered that strikes on Kyiv stop from midnight on September 5.
Putin also said Ukraine had substantially reduced strikes on Russian territory, including Moscow, during the same period. Ukraine had publicly stated that it was willing to refrain from attacks on Moscow through Monday, while asking Russia to pause attacks on Kyiv.
However, Putin drew a distinction between the temporary capital-focused arrangement and a broader ceasefire. He said Ukraine had called for a wider three-day truce, but Moscow had not formally agreed to that proposal.
The limited pause was therefore not a nationwide ceasefire. Fighting and military activity could continue elsewhere along the front line and across the wider conflict zone. The arrangement was primarily a security measure to support the U.S. delegation’s diplomatic travel.
Witkoff Thanks Putin for Pause
Witkoff thanked Putin for halting strikes on Kyiv, saying the arrangement allowed the U.S. delegation to travel “in a safe manner” during the three-day period. He said President Trump had asked him to convey greetings to the Russian leader and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hold direct discussions.
Witkoff also thanked Putin on behalf of the family of Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine who was released from Russian custody in early August. The reference highlighted the role that discreet U.S.-Russia contacts can play in detainee and prisoner cases, even when broader political relations are strained.
Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and founder of Affinity Partners, joined Witkoff in the Kremlin meeting. The presence of both envoys underlined the White House’s decision to use a small, high-level team for direct engagement with Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine Negotiations Remain Difficult
Despite the meeting and temporary pause, fundamental differences between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved. Kyiv has demanded security guarantees, the restoration of territorial integrity and an end to Russian attacks. Moscow has maintained its own conditions, including demands connected to territory, military arrangements and Ukraine’s relationship with Western institutions and NATO.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the U.S. envoys presented a number of ideas regarding possible routes to settlement, without disclosing details. He said Putin confirmed Russia’s willingness to continue working with the United States toward a political and diplomatic solution.
The lack of immediate public commitments indicates that the talks were exploratory rather than a breakthrough. Still, the direct Kremlin meeting, limited pause in attacks on the capitals and planned visit to Kyiv offer a channel for renewed communication after months of stalled diplomacy.
What Happens Next
The effectiveness of the U.S. initiative will depend on what Witkoff and Kushner hear in Kyiv and whether Washington can identify terms acceptable to both sides. The temporary three-day pause will also be an important test: if it holds, it may create limited confidence for future humanitarian arrangements or talks; if it breaks down, prospects for diplomacy could deteriorate quickly.
For now, the Kremlin meeting confirms that the United States is again pursuing direct high-level engagement with Russia. Putin’s willingness to receive the envoys and pause strikes on Kyiv signals some openness to contact, but not yet an agreement on the core issues that continue to drive the war.
Any diplomatic breakthrough would require Russia and Ukraine to accept a framework that addresses both immediate military risks and longer-term security concerns. Even a limited ceasefire would require monitoring mechanisms, rules covering attacks on infrastructure and guarantees against renewed hostilities.
Our community already has nearly 320,000 readers!
Subscribe to our Telegram channel
Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and Twitter
© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 3147
Eurasia Business News 