Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the national negotiating team immediately before the arrival in Kyiv of U.S. President's special envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The meeting, which took place on September 6, 2026, marked the final step in the Ukrainian side's preparation for one of the key diplomatic contacts at the current stage of the conflict. According to the head of state, the meeting was held in a closed session, during which Kyiv's positions were finalized and a package of proposals for delivery to the American negotiators was approved.
The Three Pillars of Ukraine's Position: Peace, Security, and a Dignified Postwar Order
Addressing the team, Zelensky clearly articulated three priorities that Ukraine considers non-negotiable conditions for ending hostilities. "Peace is needed. Security guarantees are needed. A dignified character of the postwar peace is needed. Our proposals are prepared," the president stated, emphasizing that Kyiv is not coming to the negotiations empty-handed but with a concrete set of proposals. In his words, Ukraine "has always been and will remain constructive and interested in bringing the end of the war closer," although constructiveness does not mean a readiness to sacrifice principles of security and sovereignty.
Chronology of the Visit: From Kremlin Talks to the Kyiv Table
The visit of the American envoys to the Ukrainian capital was announced by Zelensky in an evening address on September 4, 2026, and was finally agreed upon on the same day. The delegation's route was laid out sequentially: first, Witkoff and Kushner visited Moscow, where on September 5 they held talks with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The meeting with the Russian leader lasted more than three hours. The very next day, on Sunday, September 6, the special envoys arrived in Kyiv, where the meeting with the Ukrainian side took place. Thus, the American delegation conducted consultations with both sides of the conflict within 48 hours, making the Kyiv stage particularly sensitive in terms of fixing positions.
"Work in a Coordinated, Substantive, and Realistic Manner"
Zelensky separately drew the negotiating team's attention to the methodology of work: the president called for acting "in a coordinated, substantive, and realistic manner." This formulation, in essence, sets the framework for further dialogue — Kyiv declares its readiness for pragmatic discussion, while insisting that any agreements be backed by concrete mechanisms and not reduced to declarative wording. The preparation of proposals, as reported by the president, implies that specific texts and scenarios are already on the negotiating table, not just general principles.
Context: What Stands Behind the Visit
The visit of Witkoff and Kushner to Kyiv takes place against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities and growing international pressure on all parties to the conflict. For Ukraine, the meeting with the American envoys is an opportunity to put in writing its demands regarding security guarantees and the conditions for a ceasefire. For Washington — a chance to confirm that Kyiv's position remains constructive and that the Ukrainian side is ready to move from the military phase to the diplomatic one. The combination of these factors makes September 6, 2026, one of the key dates in the diplomatic history of the current conflict.
