Zelensky says war will continue into the winter, right after having a meeting with Trump's top envoys

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects the ongoing war with Russia to stretch into the winter months. He confirmed this outlook following a series of high-level meetings in Kyiv with President Donald Trump's top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as reported by the BBC. Recommended Videos The arrival of the American team in Kyiv marked their first visit to the country since the full-scale invasion began. They reached the capital by train after flying into Poland, as Zelensky noted that landing their plane directly in Ukraine was not possible despite the necessary preparations. Before arriving in Ukraine, the pair spent Saturday in Moscow for a three-hour, closed-door meeting with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Witkoff shared an optimistic outlook regarding the diplomatic efforts. He stated he was 'encouraged' by what he described as 'substantive' and important talks in Kyiv. Regarding the earlier discussions in Russia, he added, 'We're confident there'll be a good resolution here,' and noted that the negotiators had 'made a lot of progress in Moscow.' The meeting concluded without any major breakthrough Kushner provided some insight into the Russian side of the trip, explaining that the team 'went through a lot of the ideas that hadn't worked to date' and 'tried to think about' what elements are necessary for a 'durable peace.' Kushner further remarked, 'It was a very good dialogue, he [Putin] asked a lot of questions, we asked a lot of questions.' A meeting with the negotiating team following our talks with the U.S. President's envoys in Kyiv. We held three rounds of negotiations. Representatives of the E3 – France, the UK, and Germany – joined us too. Yesterday, I also had a separate tête-à-tête with Steve and Jared to… pic.twitter.com/2BeIxtdYLy — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 7, 2026 The meeting in Moscow was characterized by Putin's adviser, Yuri Ushakov, as 'constructive, extremely frank.' According to Russian state media, the participants discussed resolving the war, economic matters, and potential 'mutually beneficial Russian-American projects.' Ushakov also claimed that 'note was made of the Russian army's tangible advances in the combat zone' and suggested that discussions should focus on 'the root causes of the conflict.' Back in Kyiv, the atmosphere remained focused on the immediate future. Zelensky met with the envoys at St Sophia Cathedral, a location situated near where a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's security services on Friday. While the discussions concluded without the announcement of a major breakthrough, Zelensky told reporters that officials from Ukraine, Europe, and America would meet soon to continue the dialogue. He also advocated for a trilateral meeting involving Russia and the US. Zelensky emphasized his desire for a just peace that leaves no room for future Russian aggression. He explicitly stated that if the war continues into the winter, 'which is what it looks like for now,' Ukraine will require significant air defense and energy support. This is a critical point because Russia has historically targeted energy infrastructure during the colder months. Ukraine currently relies on American-made Patriot interceptors, but supplies are strained as the US has utilized many of its stockpiles elsewhere. Zelensky mentioned that while Ukraine aims to develop its own anti-ballistic system, the country is counting on increased American production next year. The diplomatic window was facilitated by a temporary agreement between Putin and Zelensky to halt strikes on each other's capitals for three days. Despite this, the broader conflict remains intense. Overnight, forces continued to exchange fire, with Ukraine reporting strikes on an oil refinery, an airfield, and two air defense systems. Earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force tracked 108 long-range drones and cruise missiles, managing to down 82 drones and six missiles, though 11 locations sustained hits. Although Russian ground forces have made slow progress and suffered high casualties, they still maintain control over approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy