RUSSIA has signalled its readiness to negotiate a settlement to the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, following talks with US envoys as Washington seeks to revive stalled peace efforts.
Zelensky said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky over the weekend, told him that Moscow was prepared to return to negotiations.
“The Russians are ready to negotiate,” AFP cited Zelensky telling US news outlet Axios.
The meetings marked the latest US attempt to break the diplomatic deadlock over the war, with Washington also seeking measures to reduce tensions before the coming winter.
Zelensky said the United States was pushing for de-escalation ahead of another winter in which Russia could again target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“Russia really thinks that this winter can help them to break us,” he said.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during winter since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, leaving millions without electricity and heating during periods of severe cold.
Zelensky said the weekend discussions included US proposals involving energy facilities, grain shipments and oil and gas exports, although he did not disclose further details.
He said Washington’s immediate objectives were to restart negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and establish measures that could prevent another major escalation during winter.
The US envoys travelled to Kyiv after meeting Putin in Moscow, in a renewed effort to revive direct negotiations between the warring sides.
Zelensky said the US approach was aimed at creating conditions for further talks and bringing Russia and Ukraine closer to a possible peace settlement.
The Kremlin has also said it does not rule out the resumption of three-way talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, although 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, particularly over territory and security guarantees.
Zelensky said the latest discussions nevertheless represented an opportunity to reopen the diplomatic process and work towards a settlement.
He said the objective was to ensure that the coming winter did not become another period of intensified attacks and suffering for Ukrainians, while creating a pathway towards lasting peace. - September 8, 2026
