Moscow, 6 September 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Talks in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US negotiators about the war in Ukraine were "constructive," Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin for more than three hours, Ushakov said.

Ushakov said the talks were constructive and substantive, without elaborating further. He said the envoys discussed Washington's position and would present Putin's views to Ukrainian leaders during talks in Kyiv.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US negotiators had brought new proposals with them, without providing any details.

Ahead of the talks, Putin said the discussions would be challenging and that he would explain the situation in the war from his perspective. He also conveyed his best wishes to Trump and praised him for his commitment to ending the Ukraine war.

Putin also said that Witkoff and Kushner had gained Moscow's trust. "For us, working with them is comfortable," Putin said. 

Three-day ceasefire to enable visit to Kyiv

Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law are set to travel onwards to Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to welcome the two on Sunday. 

Putin and Zelensky agreed to pause strikes on each other's capitals to enable Washington's negotiators to visit. The two men have been to Russia several times for talks, but never to Kyiv.

Putin said that Russia was doing everything possible to ensure their safe journey. 

Zelensky said Ukraine would refrain from strikes on Moscow for three days and expected Russia to do the same for Kyiv.

Warring parties pursuing escalation

Moscow and Kyiv have been sceptical about attempts to bring the war, now in its fifth year, to an end. 

The conditions for an end to the war have not yet been met, said Kremlin spokesman Peskov on Friday. 

Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky's chief of staff, also said he did not expect the fighting to end before spring 2027. He predicted further Russian strategic air strikes on Ukraine during the winter, he told the New York Times.

Both sides are currently pursuing escalation, with Putin seeking the complete conquest of the industrial Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are not planning to vacate this remaining part of the Donetsk region. 

Now, using a new tactic involving days-long drone attacks, Moscow is doubling down on the capital, Kyiv. 

Ukraine is focusing its drone attacks on Russia's oil industry and online retailers deep inside Russian territory in a bid to weaken the economy and bring the war home to the public. But observers suggest a months-long phase of relative military strength on Ukraine's part may be coming to an end.

Trump had previously said that the negotiating pair would bring a proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, without giving further details.

"We sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done," Trump told reporters.

As with previous US mediation efforts, Trump voiced optimism that progress could be made, although no major breakthrough has so far been achieved.

Talks to end the Ukraine war have been largely stalled in recent months as Washington shifted its focus to the war with Iran.