KYIV — U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, for their first official visit to Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion, a day after more than three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, The Associated Press, ABC News, BBC, and Kyiv Post reported.

The pair traveled from Poland by train to Kyiv’s central railway station, where they were met by senior Ukrainian officials including Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov, Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov, and Servant of the People faction leader Davyd Arakhamia, Kyiv Post said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later welcomed them at St. Sophia’s Cathedral / St. Sophia Square in the capital, ABC and AP reported, with Zelenskyy embracing the envoys before leading them inside.

Before the arrival, Zelenskyy said on Telegram and X that Ukraine was ready for a “substantive” / “constructive” conversation and that proposals were prepared. “We are interested in bringing the end of the war closer. Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed,” he wrote, per AP and ABC accounts of the posts.

Saturday’s Kremlin session lasted about three hours and 10 minutes behind closed doors. A White House official told outlets the sides discussed “substantive plans for next steps,” with an announcement expected in the coming weeks. Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the talks constructive and frank, said economic projects were discussed in detail, and said Putin pressed “root causes” language and battlefield assessments that Moscow wants carried into the Kyiv meetings — maximalist framing Kyiv has long rejected.

Putin and Zelenskyy agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals for the diplomacy window; Putin rejected a wider three-day frontline ceasefire, Kyiv Post and ABC reported. Overnight into Sunday, fighting continued elsewhere: Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 108 drones and cruise missiles, with 82 drones and six missiles downed and impacts in multiple locations; Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed 258 Ukrainian drones downed overnight. AP said Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed one person and wounded at least 10.

Insanity Developing covered Saturday’s Moscow meeting and capital-strike pause; Sunday’s development is the envoys’ arrival and Zelenskyy welcome in Kyiv.

Sources