Trump Envoys Hold Unannounced Talks with Kremlin Representative in New York
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in New York for unannounced discussions on the war in Ukraine and possible US-Russia cooperation. Bloomberg had reported that Dmitriev was expected to receive new US proposals, but details have not been made public. The talks coincided with diplomatic meetings around the UN General Assembly.
The New York meeting follows a pattern of quiet diplomatic contact between Washington and Moscow, including the Sept. 5 Kremlin session attended by Dmitriev and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. Witkoff and Kushner had previously traveled to both Moscow and Kyiv this month, laying groundwork for the current exchange. Bloomberg's advance reporting suggested Dmitriev would receive fresh US proposals, though their substance remains undisclosed.
The talks unfolded against a backdrop of competing ceasefire visions. Kyiv, backed by 50 countries, presented an unconditional ceasefire proposal on Sept. 23, while Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has rejected such an arrangement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated both sides expressed openness to a narrower truce covering grain and energy infrastructure, a more limited approach than Ukraine seeks.
These unannounced talks could signal a shift toward more pragmatic, back-channel diplomacy between Washington and Moscow, potentially affecting Ukrainians most directly. If the limited ceasefire on grain and energy infrastructure gains traction, it may ease some humanitarian pressures while leaving broader conflict unresolved. The secrecy of the discussions may raise concerns among US allies and Ukraine about transparency, though it could also reflect a deliberate strategy to allow frank exchanges without public posturing. The outcome may influence future negotiation formats and whether trilateral talks resume.