The Straits Times World News
· collected 2026-09-05 · by The Straits Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with two US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, for over three hours on September 5, with a Kremlin aide describing the talks as "highly useful" but without any indication of a breakthrough. The two Americans presented ideas for possible settlement avenues, although the specifics were not disclosed. No comment was given by Witkoff or Kushner after the meeting, which also touched on economic issues and potential joint projects between Russia and the US. Putin praised Trump's efforts to end the war in televised remarks at the start of the talks.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Kremlin says Ukraine talks with US envoys were useful; no sign of breakthrough
asserted
talks → say → breakthrough
Russian President Vladimir Putin held more than three hours of “highly useful” talks on Sept 5 with two US envoys seeking a deal to end the Ukraine war, a Kremlin aide said, but he gave no indication of any breakthrough.
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he → hold → breakthrough
The aide, Yuri Ushakov, said Americans Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner “outlined a number of ideas regarding possible avenues for a settlement”.
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Witkoff → say → settlement
Ushakov did not say what these ideas were.
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ideas → say → ?
He said Putin had told the pair that Russia was making “real progress” on the battlefield, was confident of achieving its goals and stressed the necessity of addressing “all the root causes of the conflict”.
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Russia → say → conflict
All these are statements that Moscow has made repeatedly in the course of the war, which has dragged on for more than 4½ years.
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which → make → years
The war has seen both sides intensify long-range air strikes in recent weeks, while the front lines remain largely static.
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lines → see → weeks
There was no comment from Witkoff and Kushner, who were visiting Moscow for the first time since January on behalf of American President Donald Trump.
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who → be → Trump
They flew out of Moscow soon after the talks and are due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sept 6.
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They → fly → Sept
“The talks went beyond a mere exchange of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
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talks → go → crisis
Economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in some detail,” Ushakov said.
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Ushakov → discuss → detail
“Overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides.”
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negotiations → say → sides
Putin’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev posted afterwards on X that it had been an “important peacemaking visit”.
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it → post → X
Putin praises Trump’s efforts
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Putin → praise → efforts
In televised remarks at the start of the talks, Putin praised Trump’s efforts to end the war.
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Putin → televise → war
Trump suggested on Sept 4 the US had a fresh proposal aimed at ending the war, but did not elaborate.
“Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said.
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Putin → suggest → conflict
He promised to ensure the safety of the US negotiators.
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He → promise → negotiators
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin had ordered the Russian military not to strike Kyiv for three days because of their trip.
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Putin → say → trip
Over the previous 10 days, Russia had pounded the Ukrainian capital day and night with missiles and drones, including an attack on Sept 4 on the headquarters of the SBU security service.
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Russia → pound → service
Ukraine has inflicted damaging hits throughout the summer on Russian refineries, oil terminals and warehouses of online retailer Wildberries, in a bid to raise the cost to Moscow of continuing the war.
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Ukraine → inflict → war
Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow through Sept 7.
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Kyiv → say → Sept
A vast gulf in positions
A vast gulf remains between Russia and Ukraine on how to end the war, the deadliest in Europe since World War II.
A source close to the Kremlin, speaking before reports emerged of the trip by Trump’s envoys, said Putin was still intent on capturing more territory.
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Putin → remain → territory
“There is no chance of reaching an agreement regarding the front line until Putin finishes securing the remaining part of the Donetsk region,” the source told Reuters, adding that the Kremlin leader was confident – based on reports from his commanders – that this would happen by the end of the year.
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this → be → year
Western military analysts see such a possibility as remote, given Moscow’s slow rate of progress.
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analysts → see → progress
Ukraine has refused to surrender land it has successfully defended at huge cost, and rejects such terms as tantamount to surrender.
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it → refuse → surrender
The Kremlin said on Sept 4 the position that Putin set out in a speech two years ago – that Ukraine should cede the entire territory of four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its plan to join NATO – was “unshakeable”.
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Ukraine → say → NATO
Since the last US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in February, each side has intensified long-range air attacks deep inside the other’s territory, while the war at sea has also escalated.
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war → mediate → sea
