Ukraine War: Trump's Envoys Arrive in Kiev After Meeting with Putin in Moscow

Sunday 06 September 2026 - 11:23

After three hours of discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kiev on Sunday. The two representatives of Donald Trump are set to present a U.S. proposal to Ukrainian authorities aimed at trying to end the war. However, negotiations face a major obstacle: Russia's territorial demands, deemed unacceptable by Ukraine.

From Moscow to Kiev, an American Mediation Under Pressure

The movement of the American envoys comes at a particularly sensitive time for the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Donald Trump.

Steve Witkoff, the American special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the U.S. president, met with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin for about three hours on Saturday. They then headed to Ukraine, arriving on Sunday at Kiev's central station after transiting through Poland.

This visit marks a first for the two men since they began participating in mediation efforts between Moscow and Kiev.

Washington's stated goal is to advance a negotiation process that has yet to yield concrete results despite several rounds of discussions.

Zelensky Shows Willingness

Upon the arrival of the American representatives, Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's willingness to continue diplomatic exchanges.

The Ukrainian president insists that his country intends to maintain a constructive attitude and wishes to accelerate the search for a resolution to the conflict. However, he emphasizes two conditions he considers essential: peace and security guarantees.

Kiev also states that it is ready to present its own proposals and hopes that discussions will be based on a coordinated and realistic approach.

This position reflects Ukraine's desire to participate in negotiations while avoiding any potential agreement that could lead to concessions deemed incompatible with its fundamental interests.

Territory, the Main Sticking Point

The issue of occupied territories remains at the center of disagreements.

Moscow demands the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk region in the east of the country. This claim is one of the main Russian demands in the discussions.

For Kiev, accepting such a request would mean abandoning part of its territory. This perspective is therefore largely rejected by Ukrainian authorities.

The disagreement on this point considerably complicates the search for a compromise. Even though Washington seeks to bridge the positions, the divergences between the two parties remain deep.

In Kiev, the Population Remains Cautious

In the streets of the Ukrainian capital, diplomatic announcements evoke more caution than enthusiasm.

Ioulia, 41, encountered by AFP, expresses a desire for a negotiated resolution to the conflict while insisting on the necessity to preserve Ukrainian territories. Hailing from an area currently occupied by Russia, she explains that she has little expectation of the Kremlin, which she accuses of pursuing imperial practices towards Ukraine.

Skepticism is also present among other residents of Kiev. Iaroslav, 29, believes that previous attempts at negotiation have been numerous without leading to peace. For him, the new discussions are still not enough to inspire genuine hope.

A New Attempt to Break the Deadlock

The movement of Witkoff and Kushner nonetheless illustrates Washington's desire to maintain a channel of dialogue with both camps.

By meeting successively with Vladimir Putin and then Volodymyr Zelensky, the American representatives aim to bridge positions that remain widely apart.

The next steps will largely depend on the negotiators' ability to find common ground on territories, security guarantees, and the conditions for a potential ceasefire.

For now, the arrival of the American envoys in Kiev opens a new diplomatic sequence but does not yet guarantee any progress towards a resolution of the conflict.