Putin Welcomes Trump Envoys in Moscow, Expresses Gratitude as US Pushes New Ukraine Peace Plan

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on September 5, 2026, for a three-hour closed-door meeting focused on a potential settlement to the Ukraine conflict. Putin expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump for his diplomatic efforts, while both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Kyiv to ensure the envoys' safety.

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on September 5, marking his eighth face-to-face encounter with Witkoff and Kushner's third round of talks on a potential settlement to the conflict in Ukraine .

The meeting, which lasted approximately three hours, was described by Putin's aide Yury Ushakov as "substantive, constructive, and marked by a high degree of openness and mutual trust" .

A Meeting of Gratitude and Diplomacy

At the start of the talks, Putin expressed his appreciation to Trump for his ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict.

"Despite realizing he was facing a difficult situation, President Trump continued his efforts to address the issue and contribute to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict," Putin told the envoys .

The Russian leader noted that the current situation "needs to be resolved today," while acknowledging the complexity of the challenges ahead .

Witkoff conveyed Trump's best wishes to Putin and thanked the Russian president for agreeing to a temporary ceasefire in Kyiv, which allowed the US delegation to travel safely . The American envoy also expressed gratitude on behalf of the family of Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who was detained in Russia since 2022 and released last month for "humanitarian reasons" .

Putin responded: "They should thank President Trump; it was he who made that call" .

The 'Peace Proposal'

President Trump confirmed on September 4 that the envoys were carrying a specific proposal to end the war.

"They're bringing with them a proposal to end the war," Trump told reporters at the White House .

Trump described Kushner and Witkoff as "two great negotiators" who have "done a great job," and expressed optimism about the mission's prospects .

The US president did not disclose the terms of the proposal but suggested that personal hostility between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had complicated peace efforts .

"There's a personality problem in Russia/Ukraine. You have President Zelensky and President Putin; they truly hate each other. It's getting in the way," Trump said .

Temporary Ceasefire and Next Steps

In a significant development, Putin confirmed that Russia had agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv for a three-day period beginning at midnight on September 5, at Ukraine's request transmitted through official channels .

"I would like to note that the Ukrainian side has also significantly reduced attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation, including Moscow. The Ukrainian authorities have called for a broader ceasefire for three days, but we have never reached an agreement with them on this issue," Putin said .

Zelensky earlier proposed a temporary ceasefire to allow the US envoys to travel safely between Moscow and Kyiv, confirming that Ukrainian forces would not conduct airstrikes during the diplomatic mission .

Following the Moscow talks, Witkoff and Kushner departed for Kyiv, with plans to meet with Zelensky on September 6. Putin confirmed the envoys would visit Kiev after Moscow, stating that "such contacts are always beneficial" .

Beyond Ukraine: Economic Cooperation

Ushakov said the negotiations were not limited to the Ukraine crisis. The two sides also discussed "economic issues and major, mutually beneficial projects between Russia and the United States" in considerable detail .

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who participated in the talks, later posted photos from Vnukovo Airport as he personally saw the US envoys off, describing their trip as an "important peacemaking visit" .

The Bottom Line

The meeting marks the latest in a series of diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to broker an end to the 4½-year conflict. Whether the "peace proposal" can break the stalemate remains to be seen — but for now, the diplomatic channel is open, and both sides are talking.