Following a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on 8 September, US President Donald Trump stated that the Russian leader allegedly wishes to conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine. The Kremlin reported that the parties had discussed bringing the war to an end as soon as possible. No agreement has been signed, and the issues of territory, security guarantees and the cessation of hostilities remain unresolved.
Briefly about the main points
- Trump claimed that Putin was allegedly prepared to strike a deal with Ukraine.
- The Kremlin has announced that discussions are taking place on how to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible.
- Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have effectively not taken place since February.
- Moscow hopes to resume negotiations with the United States acting as mediator.
- Ukraine, the US and their European partners are preparing for their next meeting.
What the US and the Kremlin said following the conversation
Trump said that whilst in contact with Putin the discussion centred on the possibility end of war. «We had a wonderful conversation with Putin. He wants to reach an agreement. If Zelensky »If he wants to strike a deal, that would be very good," said the US President.
According to the Kremlin, Trump emphasised the need to end the war as soon as possible. Putin’s aide Yuriy Ushakov described the conversation as constructive and said that the presidents had discussed the outcomes of the visits by US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv.
Putin outlined to Trump his vision for steps to end the war and stated that Moscow was prepared to continue its dialogue with the US, the Kremlin reported.
Disagreements over the terms for ending the war persist
Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have effectively not taken place since February. Ukraine rejects Russia’s demands for the transfer of further territories, whilst Moscow continues to insist on its own terms.
The parties’ public positions also differ on security guarantees, the format for ending hostilities and the future capabilities of the Ukrainian army. The Ukrainian authorities have stated that the territorial issue must be resolved at the leadership level.
In view of these differences, a statement of readiness to reach an agreement does not imply acceptance of its terms. No draft peace agreement or agreed terms for a settlement have been presented publicly.
Moscow and Kyiv have announced further diplomatic talks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov On 9 September, he stated that Moscow hopes to resume negotiations, mediated by the US, in the near future. He said that Russia is politically prepared to continue the process, without revealing the details of any potential agreements.
Ahead of the talks between Presidents Witkoff and Kushner, the two arrived in Kyiv following their meetings in Moscow. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that they had put forward «sound ideas» for the next stage of the negotiation process. Security advisers from France, the United Kingdom and Germany also took part in the meeting.
Ukraine, the US and European partners have agreed to hold their next meeting in the near future. The venue and date have not yet been decided. Trump describes ending the war as one of the main objectives of his diplomatic efforts.
