Zelensky: Putin 'does not want to upset' Trump, is 'ready to discuss' peace ideas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios that U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have discussed possible de-escalation steps with both Moscow and Kyiv ahead of and during the coming winter.

According to Zelensky, one goal of the envoys' efforts was to revive stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. A second was to try to prevent this winter from repeating the pattern of previous years, when Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure deepened the conflict.

Concerns over a new wave of strikes

Zelensky said he remains convinced that, as in past years, Russia is preparing major attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this fall and winter. At the same time, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin "doesn't want to upset" U.S. President Donald Trump and is "ready to discuss" ideas for moving negotiations forward.

Witkoff and Kushner visited Moscow on September 5 and Kyiv on September 6 — their first trip to the Ukrainian capital since the war began. No major breakthroughs were reported after the talks. Following the meetings, Zelensky said he does not expect the war to end this year.