Kathrine Frich
They revealed that Moscow seems open to new talks but he is not ready yet.
High-stakes diplomacy often moves in unexpected patterns behind closed doors.
When peace talks stall, even routine domestic political events can open fresh windows for renewed dialogue.
A major parliamentary vote in Moscow could soon set the stage for the next phase of international consultations.
A new window
American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner briefed European and Ukrainian partners during high-level meetings in Kyiv on September 6. They revealed that Moscow seems open to new talks after its parliamentary vote later this month.
The Russian State Duma elections are scheduled to take place between September 18 and September 20.
According to Le Figaro cited by United24Media, diplomatic representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany participated in the briefing alongside Ukrainian officials. Together, they worked to coordinate the framework and timing for upcoming talks.
French presidential administration representatives confirmed the update during a telephone press briefing. “The Americans informed us that Russia is once again ready for negotiations after the Duma elections and that, in this context, preparations should be made for a new stage of negotiations,” French officials stated.
Slow progress on ground
This diplomatic update follows a three-hour meeting in Moscow between the American envoys and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. That session ended without an immediate breakthrough. Russian forces continue their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin remains determined to capture the entire Donetsk region, a military goal he believes his forces can achieve within six months. However, independent analysis points to a vastly different reality on the ground.
Calculations by the Institute for the Study of War show Russian troops advancing at a crawl of just 2.36 square kilometers per day. At that slow rate, taking the remaining 19% of the region would take until October 2032.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Putin might hold a phone call with Donald Trump. Still, Peskov stated it remains premature to set specific dates for three-party talks. Even so, Witkoff reported substantial progress following his follow-up consultations in Kyiv.
Sources: Le Figaro, United24 Media, Institute for the Study of War
