Russian President Putin stated on September 3 that there is a "possibility of reaching an agreement" to end the war in Ukraine, and revealed that several countries, including the United States and China, are willing to provide support for peaceful resolution. On the same day, Ukraine's Foreign Minister said that there would be "new developments" in peace efforts. US President Donald Trump, on social media, demanded that Europe repay the military aid and ammunition expenses that the United States had previously provided to Ukraine, and stated that the US was prioritizing replenishing its own stocks.
According to Reuters report from Vladivostok on September 3, Putin stated at the Far East Economic Forum that some countries, including the United States and China, are willing to support a political resolution to the conflict. "We thank all those who have made efforts to resolve the conflict. Is it possible? In my opinion, it is possible," he said. He also emphasized that the final solution still needs to be decided jointly by the parties involved in the conflict, Russia and Ukraine.
Putin stated that communication between Russia and Ukraine is still ongoing, but it is difficult to assess the extent to which these contacts could contribute to the achievement of a peace agreement at this stage. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy delivered a video speech that evening, stating that representatives of the US mediation had preliminarily determined the dates for visits to Moscow and Kyiv, and Kyiv is looking forward to the arrival of U.S. representatives. U.S. negotiator Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner visited Moscow in January this year, but have yet to visit Kyiv.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrey Besov told reporters in Kiev on the same day that as multiple countries resume active political and diplomatic contacts, the peace process is expected to gain new momentum. He did not disclose any specific details, only suggesting reporters to "pay attention to news." Ukrainian media outlets such as LB.ua and the Azerbaijan News Agency quoted him as saying that it is unrealistic to advance negotiations without the active involvement of the United States, and Kiev maintains communication with Washington.
Trump also posted an article on the same day, stating that he would demand European countries to repay the costs of military assistance and ammunition provided by the United States to Ukraine. In his post, he wrote that the United States had "provided billions of dollars without compensation" to Ukraine and NATO, while Europe "will pay whenever asked." "We need this money now, although it's already too late," he said, blaming the previous Biden administration for this situation.
Trump also mentioned that due to the Iranian conflict, the United States has been depleting its ammunition stocks. As a result, the US is expanding its production capacity and prioritizing meeting domestic needs. “We give first priority to the United States itself, not to others, but sales to allies will soon resume,” he said. According to Reuters, the US and NATO last year introduced a mechanism called the “Priorities Urgent List” (PURL), where European countries fund the procurement of American weapons, which are then transferred to Ukraine. This statement further expands the scope of aid that can be sought, and seems to imply that military sales to allies were once suspended or subject to restrictions.
What can be confirmed at present is that Moscow has sent a signal that “an agreement is likely to be reached”. Kiev says diplomacy will see “new developments”, while Washington is presenting its demands for aid to Europe. None of the three parties has announced a timeline for a ceasefire, withdrawal, or formal peace talks. Putin has left the final decision to Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Sibiha points to the United States as a key variable, while Trump has changed his stance on aid from “donation” to “requiring repayment”. Whether peace talks can truly heat up still depends on whether there will be “new developments” as Sibiha suggests in the coming days.
