Witkoff and Kushner leave Kyiv by train after talks

US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left Kyiv overnight into September 7 aboard a train operated by Ukraine's national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia. The company's press service confirmed the departure.

Ukrzaliznytsia said it had dispatched a special train for the two envoys, thanking them for their visit and wishing them a swift return, while encouraging them to broaden their travel itinerary so that other Ukrainian cities could also enjoy "quiet weekends." The railway operator also released photographs of the two diplomats on the platform of the capital's train station.

Talks with Zelensky

Around 2:20 p.m., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the start of negotiations with Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner. Zelensky had earlier said Ukraine had prepared to welcome the pair at the airport, but Russia effectively prevented them from arriving by plane.

Earlier talks in Moscow

The day before, on September 5, the US envoys had taken part in negotiations in Moscow. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russia's leadership, said President Vladimir Putin told the American representatives during Saturday's talks that he was confident of achieving the war's objectives. The White House, for its part, described the talks as "substantive" and said further steps would be announced in the coming weeks.