Putin and Trump Speak by Phone as US Envoys Head to Kyiv and Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on Monday, September 8, 2026. The call came as American special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg prepared for back-to-back visits to Kyiv and Moscow to advance diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

According to the Kremlin readout, Trump expressed his desire to achieve a peace agreement by the end of 2029. Putin assured Trump that Russia harbors no hostile intentions toward European nations. Both leaders agreed to maintain ongoing contact as the diplomatic process unfolds.

Ukraine has not yet issued an official comment on the outcomes of the call. Kyiv has previously expressed concern about any peace talks conducted without full Ukrainian participation. The upcoming visits by US envoys are seen as a significant step in American-mediated diplomacy.