Kremlin to press on despite US talks

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his commitment to continuing military operations in Ukraine, aiming to control the eastern Donetsk region within six months despite recent talks with U.S. envoys in Moscow. While diplomatic discussions are ongoing, including meetings in Kyiv with Ukrainian and European officials, significant obstacles remain, and both sides anticipate the conflict will persist into next year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains committed to continuing military operations in Ukraine following recent diplomatic engagements with U.S. envoys, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The talks, held last weekend in Moscow with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, did not yield a breakthrough, with Putin reportedly determined to secure full control over Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region within the next six months.

The meeting, which lasted over three hours, was described by Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov as “substantive, constructive, extremely frank, and trusting.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated a possible phone conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump could take place to further diplomatic efforts. Peskov also did not dismiss the prospect of resuming trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States but noted it was premature to discuss a timeline or venue.

Following their Moscow visit, the U.S. delegation proceeded to Kyiv for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. Witkoff stated at a subsequent briefing that progress had been made in Moscow, with new ideas being presented in Kyiv. Zelensky, however, adopted a cautious stance regarding the potential for an immediate resolution to the conflict, emphasizing Ukraine’s preparations for a difficult winter and efforts to strengthen air defenses against ongoing Russian attacks.

“The most important thing is to continue working together actively to keep diplomacy going,” Zelensky said in a social media post on Monday. He added that additional meetings and communications were being planned to maintain dialogue.

The diplomatic talks in Kyiv also involved national security officials from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Meanwhile, the European Union’s Economy and Productivity Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis held virtual discussions on Monday with Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi. The commission’s statement highlighted the EU’s focus on Ukraine’s financial requirements for 2026-2027, anticipating that Russia’s military campaign will likely persist throughout the next year.

As diplomatic efforts continue amid ongoing hostilities, both sides appear to be exploring avenues to maintain dialogue, though significant challenges remain in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.