---
title: "Zelensky: US exploring winter de-escalation between Ukraine and Russia and resumption of peace agreement talks"
description: "In an interview with Axios, Zelensky stated that the US is exploring winter de-escalation between Ukraine and Russia and the resumption of peace agreement talks. Trump's envoys brought a signal from Moscow about readiness for dialogue."
date: 2026-09-07T18:08:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-us-explores-winter-deescalation-ukraine-russia
tags: [ukraine-russia-talks, winter-deescalation, zelensky, trump-envoys, axios-interview]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelensky: US exploring winter de-escalation between Ukraine and Russia and resumption of peace agreement talks

![Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking at a podium with microphones against a blue backdrop, commenting on US review of winter de-escalation and resumption of peace talks with Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/07/zelenskiy-ssha-izuchayut-zimnyu-deeskalatsiyu-ukraina-rossiya/zelenskiy-ssha-izuchayut-zimnyu-deeskalatsiyu-ukraina-rossiya-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The US is exploring de-escalation measures between Ukraine and Russia for the winter and the resumption of talks on a broader peace agreement, Zelensky said in an interview with Axios.
- On September 6 in Kyiv, Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Zelensky that Russia is ready for negotiations and brought new ideas.
- Steps on energy facilities, grain deliveries, and oil and gas exports were discussed.
- Zelensky believes Putin is counting on a harsh winter, but the US is capable of putting pressure on him.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with Axios that the United States is exploring the possibility of Ukraine and Russia taking measures to de-escalate the conflict over the course of the winter, while simultaneously resuming negotiations on a broader peace agreement. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the head of state's remarks. According to Zelensky's assessment, the weeks leading up to winter form a "window for diplomacy" that, in his view, should be used to reduce tensions on the front line and in the energy sector.

### A window for diplomacy before winter

Zelensky emphasized that, in his belief, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is counting on yet another harsh winter, which is meant to weaken Ukraine. At the same time, the president expressed confidence that even if Moscow is unwilling to move toward de-escalation, the United States has the tools to put pressure on the Russian leader. Thus, Kyiv is viewing the upcoming autumn-winter period as a time in which external pressure from Washington could turn the diplomatic "window" into concrete steps toward reducing escalation.

### What Trump's envoys brought

According to Zelensky, after a meeting in Kyiv with US President's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he received a message they brought from Moscow: "the Russians are ready for negotiations." The head of state noted that the American side brought "some new ideas," the details of which he declined to fully disclose. Part of the discussions concerned potential de-escalation steps by Russia and Ukraine during the winter and in the run-up to it. Zelensky listed the topics: "There are ideas on energy facilities and on grain deliveries, on oil and gas exports. We have different interests, we and Russia."

### Contradictory data

The statements from the parties contain a notable divergence in assessments. On the one hand, Zelensky characterizes Moscow's position as oriented toward "yet another harsh winter" to weaken Ukraine, i.e., as not ready for voluntary de-escalation. On the other hand, it was precisely Washington's envoys who, according to him, conveyed the signal that "the Russians are ready for negotiations," and the American side, after meetings in Moscow and Kyiv, announced progress in the peace process and an agreed schedule for subsequent contacts. Thus, the same meeting is simultaneously described as confirmation of Russia's unwillingness to de-escalate and as evidence of its readiness for dialogue; the discrepancy is explained by the fact that Zelensky interprets "readiness for negotiations" and "readiness for de-escalation" as different levels, and he links de-escalation to US pressure rather than to Moscow's goodwill.

### Reaction and next schedule

Zelensky stated that the new US approach — resuming negotiations and attempting to reach agreements that would allow Ukraine and Russia to get through the winter without significant escalation — is "very close to the reality of these conversations" with Witkoff and Kushner. The goal, he said, would be to find steps before or during the winter that "could bring the parties closer to peace." Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that on September 6, special representatives of the US President spent a day in Kyiv, meeting with Zelensky, the Ukrainian negotiating team, and European representatives, after which the American side reported progress and an agreed schedule for further negotiations.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [US considering winter de-escalation between Ukraine and Russia, ideas already exist, - Zelensky](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-rozglyadayut-zimovu-deeskalatsiyu-mizh-1788804259.html) - Первичный реле интервью Axios: изучение зимней деэскалации, идеи по энергетике/зерну/нефти, месседж о готовности РФ к переговорам.
- [Ukraine may face a winter catastrophe: Zelensky turns to the US for help](https://glavred.info/war/ukrainu-mozhet-ozhidat-zimnyaya-katastrofa-zelenskiy-obratilsya-za-pomoshchyu-k-ssha-10784420.html) - Подтверждает контекст обращения к США и тему зимних рисков; согласуется с тезисом об «окне для дипломатии».
- [Zelensky discussed resumption of talks with Russia with Witkoff and Kushner, - Axios](https://ukranews.com/news/1164393-zelenskij-obsudil-s-vitkoffom-i-kushnerom-vozobnovlenie-peregovorov-s-rf-axios) - Независимое подтверждение факта интервью Axios и обсуждения возобновления переговоров с посланниками Трампа.
- [Russia, US and Ukraine preparing to begin trilateral negotiations](https://www.kp.ru/daily/277813/5299812/) - Указывает на подготовку к переговорному треку; формулировка «трехсторонние» шире, чем в первичном тексте, поэтому взята как контекст, а не как основной факт.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly, according to Zelensky, is the US exploring?
**A:** The US is exploring whether Ukraine and Russia can take measures to de-escalate during the winter and simultaneously resume negotiations on a broader peace agreement.

### Q: Who met with Zelensky on September 6 in Kyiv?
**A:** Special representatives of the US President Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who also met with the Ukrainian negotiating team and European representatives.

### Q: What topics were discussed at the meeting?
**A:** According to Zelensky, potential de-escalation steps during the winter were discussed, including on energy facilities, grain deliveries, and oil and gas exports.

### Q: What message did Trump's envoys bring from Moscow?
**A:** Zelensky stated that the message was that "the Russians are ready for negotiations," and that the American side brought "some new ideas."