Against the backdrop of visits by U.S. special envoys to Moscow and Kyiv, the Kremlin disclosed new details of a phone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, held on September 8, 2026. According to Russian presidential aide Ushakov, the conversation was constructive in nature, and Trump linked the swift end of the war with 'impressive and far-reaching' prospects for the trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Details of the Phone Conversation

As Ushakov reported, the leaders discussed the progress of the settlement and agreed to stay in touch, holding a follow-up conversation if necessary. The Russian presidential aide emphasized that he could not disclose all the details of the conversation, but characterized it as constructive. According to several media outlets, the call lasted about an hour.

Trade Prospects as an Argument

The key element, which Ushakov said Trump emphasized, was the link between peace and the economy: the swift end of the war, he said, would open up 'impressive and far-reaching' prospects for the full restoration of U.S.-Russia relations, particularly in the trade and economic sphere, promising 'huge gains' for both sides. According to the Kremlin, Putin supported this approach.

Context: Visits by Witkoff and Kushner

The call took place after a trip by U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On September 5, they met with Putin in Moscow, where, according to reports, the Russian leader described the course of the fighting and expressed his desire to achieve military objectives, while the American side presented its own proposals for a settlement. On September 6, Witkoff and Kushner visited Kyiv for the first time and met with Volodymyr Zelensky, who stated that the U.S. officials had put forward 'several very worthy ideas' for a peaceful settlement.

Contradictory Data

There are several inconsistencies here. First, the visits by the U.S. representatives raised the question of a possible resumption of trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, yet this possibility is not mentioned in the Kremlin's official report on the Putin-Trump conversation. Second, the duration of the call (about an hour) appears in publications by several outlets but is not confirmed in the text of the Kremlin's statement itself. Third, Moscow's intention to establish full control over the rest of the Donetsk region is cited with reference to a single source close to the Kremlin and is not backed by an official statement.

What's Next

The parties agreed to maintain contact and, if necessary, to hold another call. Against the backdrop of these signals, observers' attention is focused on whether a public confirmation of the trilateral talks format will emerge in the coming days and what specific economic incentives Washington is ready to offer in exchange for de-escalation.