by WorldTribune Staff, September 8, 2026 Non-AI Real World News
In a Tuesday phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that a swift end to the war in Ukraine would allow for the “full restoration of U.S.-Russia ties,” the Kremlin said.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Trump and Putin had discussed the outcome of the weekend visit to Moscow and Kyiv of U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — something he said both leaders had rated “with a plus sign” — and said that Putin had told Trump what he believed the United States could do to help end the conflict.
Putin had also given Trump his assessment of what the situation on the battlefield was and had made it clear that Russia had no hostile plans towards Europe, Ushakov said.
“Donald Trump clearly emphasized the desirability of bringing the conflict to an end as soon as possible, which would immediately open up prospects — impressive and far-reaching ones at that — for the full restoration of relations between the U.S. and Russia,” said Ushakov.
“In his view, this would have a particular impact on trade and economic ties, promising enormous benefits for both countries. Donald Trump is keen to see a breakthrough achieved during his presidency. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported this approach.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes to meet with Trump around Sept. 20, before both men are expected to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“As for the peace package that Kushner spoke about and the new ideas, I’ll tell you frankly, there were indeed a couple of very good, worthwhile ideas,” Zelensky said without elaborating except to say that he hoped delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. can meet later in the fall.
At President Trump’s direction, United States negotiators visited both Moscow and Kyiv in order to facilitate additional dialogue to end the Russia-Ukraine War. Ahead of the trip, the Russians and Ukrainians agreed to a three-day no-shoot policy to enable these discussions to… pic.twitter.com/7oj7C2Qp2p
— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) September 7, 2026