Putin tells US envoys war situation ‘not simple’ as talks begin

Russian President Vladimir Putin opened talks in the Kremlin with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner by calling the situation the sides have to resolve “not a simple one,” and asked them to pass on his best wishes to President Donald Trump. President Vladimir Putin, right, greets U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff, second from left, and Jared Kushner prior to talks at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (Tribune News Service) — Russian President Vladimir Putin opened talks in the Kremlin with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner by calling the situation the sides have to resolve “not a simple one,” and asked them to pass on his best wishes to President Donald Trump.

The meeting got underway after Putin ordered Russian forces to pause airstrikes on Kyiv, with the two U.S. officials preparing to travel on to the Ukrainian capital for the first time since the war began. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Kremlin had received information that Kyiv would also halt fire for three days, and would reciprocate. Witkoff and Kushner landed in Moscow on Saturday and Putin plans to meet both, Peskov said. Expectations for the visit are low, though, according to people