U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has reported noticeable progress in the ongoing negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine. He noted that they have successfully planned additional trilateral meetings, establishing a foundation for further dialogue.
The American envoy, accompanied by Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has spent the last two days in both Moscow and Kyiv, negotiating personally with the leaders of both countries. During the meetings in the Ukrainian capital, they emphasized the urgency of returning to a trilateral format—a proposal that neither Kyiv nor Moscow has rejected.
Representatives from Great Britain, France, and Germany were also present at the Kyiv meetings. The American side conveyed to its European partners that the Kremlin has expressed readiness to return to the negotiating table following the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18-20. In turn, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov assessed the American officials' visit positively, describing it as a small step toward a peaceful settlement.
This visit demonstrates that the U.S. is attempting to intensify diplomatic efforts aimed at freezing the conflict or initiating peace negotiations. It is noteworthy that Russia’s mention of the election timeline as a condition highlights how Moscow’s domestic agenda is intertwined with these sensitive foreign policy moves.
The key question remains the role of European countries, which are showing active participation in the discussions held in Kyiv. If the trilateral format is restored, it could inject new dynamics into a process that has long been at a standstill.
