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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Russia has signalled its readiness to engage in negotiations toward a settlement of the nearly four-year-old war, following a weekend visit by two senior US envoys to Moscow and Kyiv. The development, reported by Axios on Monday, September 7, 2026, marks the latest bid by the administration of US President Donald Trump to break a diplomatic stalemate in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
Zelensky told Axios that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—who held separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian leader—conveyed to him that "the Russians are ready to negotiate". "Russia really thinks that this winter can help them to break us," Zelensky said, acknowledging Moscow's strategy of targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure each winter since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. However, he expressed confidence that the Trump administration could pressure Putin to de-escalate, adding that the Russian leader "doesn't want" to "upset" his US counterpart.
The weekend discussions included US proposals related to energy facilities, grain shipments, and oil and gas exports, though Zelensky declined to provide further details. Witkoff, who touted progress in the meetings, raised the prospect of reviving three-way peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. The Ukrainian leader said the US approach aims to resume negotiations and ensure that the coming winter is different from previous ones, with the goal of making progress before or during the cold months to "bring (the) sides closer to the peace".
The Kremlin has also indicated it does not rule out the resumption of three-way talks, though it said it was too early to discuss when or where such negotiations might take place. Despite the renewed diplomatic push, major differences remain between Moscow and Kyiv over territory and security guarantees. However, Zelensky said the discussions nonetheless represented an opportunity to reopen the diplomatic process and work toward a settlement. The Trump administration's intervention comes at a critical juncture, as Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy grid during winter, leaving millions without power and heating in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius.
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