Russia and Ukraine have resumed attacks after a brief pause that came during a fresh US diplomatic effort to revive peace talks. Explosions were reported in Kyiv after Russian forces launched another wave of attacks, with Ukrainian officials reporting missile and drone strikes and damage to residential buildings. The renewed fighting came shortly after US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, travelled to Moscow and Kyiv as part of Washington’s latest attempt to bring Russia and Ukraine closer to a peace agreement.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: What Happened After the US Peace Talks?
Witkoff and Kushner first met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before travelling to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials. The diplomatic meetings were part of a renewed US effort to restart negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Witkoff said the US delegation had met representatives from both sides to discuss their proposals. A temporary three-day pause in attacks was announced around the time of the diplomatic mission. However, the limited ceasefire did not develop into a wider or lasting halt to fighting. After the pause ended, Russian forces resumed attacks, while Ukraine continued launching strikes against Russian military and energy targets.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Why Did Russia Resume Attacks on Kyiv?
Russian forces launched fresh attacks on Kyiv after the temporary pause. Ukrainian officials said ballistic missiles were fired towards the capital and reported damage to residential buildings in two districts. Residents were urged to stay inside shelters until the air-raid warning was lifted. “Please remain in shelters until the air raid alert is lifted,” officials said on Telegram. Further Russian drone attacks were also reported in other parts of Ukraine. The renewed strikes highlighted the continuing gap between diplomatic discussions and developments on the battlefield.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: What Did Steve Witkoff Say About the Peace Talks?
Witkoff said the US delegation had travelled to both Moscow and Kyiv at President Trump’s direction to support efforts to end the war. “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,” he said. He said the delegations met Putin and Zelenskyy to discuss proposals from both countries. Talks in Kyiv also involved national security advisers from the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Witkoff later said “substantive progress was made” during the discussions and suggested that the talks could move towards further negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. However, despite the positive assessment from Washington, there has been no comprehensive peace agreement or lasting ceasefire.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Did Ukraine Also Strike Russia?
Yes. Ukraine has continued carrying out long-range attacks against Russian military and energy targets. President Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones had targeted oil-processing facilities in Russia’s Perm region, Tatarstan and Ryazan. The Perm region is home to an oil refinery operated by Russian energy company Lukoil. Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian forces targeted Russian drone-launch sites in the Kursk region and another target in the Black Sea. He shared video footage showing smoke rising from locations that Ukraine said had been hit. The Ukrainian attacks came shortly after Zelenskyy met Witkoff and Kushner in Kyiv.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Why Are Russian Oil Refineries Being Targeted?
Russian energy infrastructure has become an important target in Ukraine’s long-range military campaign. Ukraine has repeatedly attacked Russian oil facilities in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s energy revenues and military supply capabilities. The strikes have also become part of a debate in the United States over global fuel prices. Some Trump administration officials have argued that attacks on Russian refineries could contribute to upward pressure on energy prices.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright described Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as a major factor affecting fuel markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also linked the attacks to higher energy prices, saying: “Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets and refined products. So that is creating upward price pressure on a global basis.”
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Did the Kushner-Witkoff Peace Push Make Progress?
The US envoys have described their discussions with both sides as productive, but the meetings have not yet produced a major breakthrough. The diplomatic effort did succeed in bringing US officials directly into discussions with both Moscow and Kyiv. However, fundamental disagreements between Russia and Ukraine remain.
Issues including territory, security guarantees, NATO and the future of Ukraine’s military continue to complicate negotiations. Trump and Putin have also maintained communication, with the Kremlin saying Putin outlined his views on steps that could help achieve a ceasefire. For now, the latest diplomatic effort has kept negotiations alive, but fighting has continued.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: What Are the Main Obstacles to a Peace Deal?
Territory remains one of the biggest challenges in negotiations. Russia has continued to demand major concessions from Ukraine, while Kyiv has rejected terms it considers unacceptable. Other major issues include security guarantees for Ukraine, NATO membership and the future structure and strength of the Ukrainian military. These disagreements have made it difficult for Washington to turn diplomatic discussions into a lasting ceasefire or comprehensive peace agreement.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Why Did Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Resign?
Ukraine is also facing a domestic political challenge after Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned amid a corruption investigation involving officials in his office. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said they had uncovered an alleged scheme involving fraudulent call centres and money laundering.
Investigators searched offices linked to the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of the investigation. According to the anti-corruption agencies, an official in Kravchenko’s office allegedly helped protect call centres involved in scams in exchange for payments. Authorities also allege that money from the scheme was later used to acquire assets such as property and other valuables.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Was Ruslan Kravchenko Accused of Running the Scheme?
No. The latest reports do not identify Kravchenko himself as a suspect in the investigation. The allegations centre on a subordinate official working in his office. Kravchenko has denied wrongdoing. He said his resignation was intended to prevent his position from becoming part of a political confrontation while the investigation continues. His departure comes at a difficult time for Ukraine, which is simultaneously dealing with Russian attacks, diplomatic pressure and the need to demonstrate progress in its fight against corruption.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: What Is the Latest Update in September 2026?
As of September 9, 2026, Russian and Ukrainian forces have resumed attacks following the temporary pause associated with the latest US diplomatic mission. Witkoff and Kushner have held discussions in both Moscow and Kyiv, with US officials describing the talks as showing progress. However, there is still no confirmed comprehensive ceasefire or peace agreement.
Ukraine continues to target Russian military and energy infrastructure, while Russia continues missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. Meanwhile, the resignation of Ukraine’s prosecutor general has added another domestic political challenge for Kyiv.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on whether the United States can turn the latest diplomatic contacts into sustained negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Trump and Putin have agreed to maintain communication, while Kyiv has also continued engaging with Washington. The next stage of diplomacy will have to address difficult issues such as territory, security guarantees and the future of Ukraine. For now, however, the resumption of attacks after the temporary pause shows that diplomatic progress has yet to translate into a lasting ceasefire on the battlefield.
