U.S. Envoys Tell Kyiv of New Russian Opening for Talks Post-Duma Elections

The French presidency confirmed that U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, during talks in Kyiv on Sunday with European representatives, conveyed indications of Russian willingness to resume negotiations.

In a telephone briefing with journalists, the French presidency stated: “The Americans informed us of a new Russian openness to negotiations after the State Duma elections,” referring to the lower house of the Russian parliament scheduled for September 18–20.

What the U.S. envoys communicated in Kyiv

The two American envoys briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, then separately met with representatives of the European trio—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—to relay the substance of their prior-day discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Timing and diplomatic context

The French presidency added: “In this context, preparations must be made for a new launch of negotiations.”