US Envoys Meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to Discuss Ending the War with Russia

United States special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 6, 2026, focusing on efforts to end Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. This marked their first visit to Kyiv since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022. The meeting occurred a day after the envoys met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the visit, stating, "It is very important that the delegation has arrived to see us. We have been waiting a long time for Steve and Jared, Witkoff and Kushner." After the meeting, Witkoff described the discussions as "substantive" and "important." Kushner noted that President Trump aimed to establish conditions for a long-term peace, not just an end to the current conflict. Zelenskyy shared a video of the meeting and indicated that European national security advisers would also participate in subsequent discussions. The US envoys traveled to Kyiv by train from Poland, seeking to revive negotiations amid ongoing tensions. Zelenskyy took the envoys to visit Kyiv's Saint Sophia's Cathedral, located near the Security Service of Ukraine building, which was recently struck by a Russian drone. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with previous US-mediated peace talks yielding limited results. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov characterized the Moscow meeting as "highly useful," while a White House official stated that further steps would be announced in the coming weeks. Putin assured the safety of the US envoys during their visit to Kyiv. Despite a ceasefire agreement for the capitals, fighting continued in other regions, with reports of drone and missile attacks. The Ukraine Air Force reported that Russia launched 108 drones and missiles overnight, while the Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have shot down 400 drones in the same timeframe.