Reuters: Russia, US discuss next steps on Ukraine after Moscow talks

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on ending the Ukraine war were “substantive,” with Washington expected to announce the next steps in the coming weeks, a White House official told Reuters on September 5.

The three-hour-plus meeting in Moscow was described by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as "highly useful", although he gave no indication that it had produced a breakthrough.

Ushakov said Witkoff and Kushner “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement.” He did not elaborate on the proposals put forward by the two American envoys.

According to Ushakov, Putin told the pair that Russia was making "real progress" on the battlefield and remained confident of achieving its goals, while emphasizing the need to address “all the root causes of the conflict.”

“The talks went beyond a mere exchange ​of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in some detail,” Ushakov noted. "Overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides.”

Putin's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who attended the meeting alongside Ushakov, described the visit as an “important peacemaking visit” in a post on X.

Important peacemaking visit. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/r5UQhjeMxE

— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) September 5, 2026

Witkoff and Kushner, who are representing US President Donald Trump, made their first trip to Moscow since January. Neither envoy immediately commented on the meeting.

The two US representatives left Moscow shortly after the talks and are scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on September 6.

By Jeyhun Aghazada