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Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has “frustrated” both Ukraine and Russia during with the US-mediated peace process, it has been reported.
Behind the scenes, officials in both countries are working to remove the US official, who has been the main channel of communication between the Trump administration and the Kremlin since his appointment in March 2025.
Ukrainian officials say they are seeing little willingness to increase pressure on Russia, while the Kremlin increasingly blames Witkoff for “diplomatic” failures and his inability to pressure Ukraine into surrendering territories, the Kyiv Independent reported.
“They keep telling us that ‘you have to end this war.’ As if we don’t f***ing want to end it,” said one Ukrainian official involved in the peace talks, who wished to remain anonymous.
This comes after Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner travelled to both Moscow and Kyiv for round of negotiations with leaders.
This comes as 111 million people head to the polls for Russia’s first parliamentary elections since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
With virtually no opposition, Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party is expected to cement its grip of power – result that will be held up by the Kremlin as evidence of widespread support for his war policies.
Trump envoy ‘frustrates both Moscow and Kyiv’![[Right to left] Volodymyr Zelensky, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv](https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-06T184533Z_1834898875_RC2SDNA4OHPW_RTRMADP_3_UKRAINE-CRISIS-USA-ENVOYS.JPG)
[Right to left] Volodymyr Zelensky, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv (Reuters)
Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has “frustrated” both Ukraine and Russia during with the US-mediated peace process, it has been reported.
Behind the scenes, officials in both countries are working to remove the US official, who has been the main channel of communication between the Trump administration and the Kremlin since his appointment in March 2025.
Ukrainian officials say they are seeing little willingness to increase pressure on Russia, while the Kremlin increasingly blames Witkoff for “diplomatic” failures and his inability to pressure Ukraine into surrendering territories, the Kyiv Independent reported.
“They keep telling us that ‘you have to end this war.’ As if we don’t f***ing want to end it,” said one Ukrainian official involved in the peace talks, who wished to remain anonymous.
This comes after Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner travelled to both Moscow and Kyiv for round of negotiations with leaders.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 17:00
Poland won’t give up ‘a single inch’ of territory says Tusk after warning over Russian drones
Tusk was responding to president Karol Nawrocki who wrote on X on Thursday: “We are a nation that may lose territory, but we will never lose our soul; we may surrender territory, but we will never surrender our Homeland.”
Read more about Poland’s warning.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 16:00
Russia demands removal of US Typhoon missile systems from Japan
Russia has demanded that Japan removes the US-made Typhoon missile systems from the island of Kyushu.
The Foreign Ministry said its note of protest, which was issued earlier this month, warned that the deployment threatens Russian security, regional peace and stability.
Earlier this week, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with Akira Muto, the Japanese ambassador, and urged him to “treat the contents of the previously sent note with the utmost seriousness.”
The strain follows Vladimir Putin’s trip last month to the Kuril Islands, the Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that is claimed by both countries.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 15:30
Drones targeting UK military sites nearly every day as threat from Putin grows
Rogue drones are targeting Britain’s military bases almost daily, leaving Britain vulnerable to growing threats from Russia and Iran, The Independent can reveal.
Some 340 security incidents involving drones were reported at or near Ministry of Defence sites in the year to August 2026, data obtained under freedom of information laws shows. In 2025 there were a total of 250 incidents recorded – double the 126 recorded the year before.
Read more about The Independent’s investigation into the alarming increase.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 15:00
France ‘targeted by Russian hybrid attacks’
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he addresses the audience during a press conference following a meeting with the 2027 presidential election candidates and party leaders (AP)
Emmanuel Macron has claimed that Russian hybrid attacks targeted France in the past few weeks,
“The threat – particularly the Russian hybrid threat – facing Europeans and France has intensified,” the president told reporters after a meeting in Paris with political party leaders to discuss recent developments in the international situation.
He added that he believes “the nature of Russian aggression is changing”, according to French broadcaster BFM.
It comes just days after Germany also accused Russia of being behind the attempted drone strike at Leipzig Airport in August.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 14:30
Zelensky unveils ‘Carpathian Eight’ initiative on trade and security
(Reuters)
Volodymyr Zelensky has launched on Friday a new regional grouping of eight countries from the Carpathian region designed to boost trade, security and energy.
The new grouping brings together Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and the European Union.
“Today, for the first time, here in Ukraine, in our part of the Carpathians, we hold a Summit that brings together all the Carpathian states, the regions and communities of our countries,” Zelensky posted on X.
“We are launching a new format – ‘C8,’ the Carpathian Eight – bringing together us and our neighbours in Europe… and, of course, the European Union as a whole.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and Romania’s President Nicusor Dan attended the inaugural event, which is expected to last until Sunday.
Close to 550 business representatives are expected to attend the forum, with investment and trade agreements worth $1.15 billion expected to be signed.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 14:00
‘Results are easy to rig,’ Russian voters admit
Some voters in Moscow have cast doubt about the outcome of Russia’s three-day State Duma election that kicked off this morning.
One man, who declined to give his name, said he believed the results were easy to rig and raised doubts about an electronic voting system being used in some parts of the country.
The electoral commission has rejected such suggestions as false.
Meanwhile, Anatoliy Simonenko, 76, said he was positive about what might happen after the election amid speculation that a new wave of mobilisation may be announced.
“There are some very grim predictions, and others that are more optimistic,” he said.
“I expect the outcome will likely fall somewhere in the middle. War is war. It entails expenses, defence spending, and cuts to various social benefits. Well, it’s necessary; there’s no getting around it.”
The State Duma election, the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, is widely expected to see the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party retain its dominance.
The result is likely to be held up by the Kremlin as evidence of public support for Putin’s policies.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 13:30
One killed and eight injured in Russian strike on commuter train
Firefighters extinguish fire on a suburban train which was hit by a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv region (Reuters)
The aftermath of the Russian strike on the commuter train (Reuters)
One person has been killed and eight more have been injured in a Russian strike on a commuter train in Kharkiv.
Jet-powered drones hit one of the railways stations in the area of Novovodolazhka, resulting in a fire breaking out in two cars of the train.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 13:00
‘It’s a high-stakes, high-risk gamble for Putin’
Vladimir Putin’s demeanour, usually a study of sneering command and icy stare, was showing distinct twitchiness in the run-up to this weekend’s three days of elections across Russia.
The result of the vote for the 450-seat Russian parliament, the Duma, is not in doubt.
Any serious opposition parties have been ruled out on various spurious, legalistic pretexts.
But the president could soon face the worst dilemma of his political life.
Read more from The Independent’s Robert Fox on Putin’s “high-stakes, high-risk gamble” in the Russian elections.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 12:40
Kremlin officials ‘secretly urging loved ones to flee’ amid mobilisation fears
Russian reservists depart for military bases during mobilisation of troops, in Sevastopol (AFP/Getty)
Kremlin officials have been secretly telling friends and relatives to flee Russia amid fears of a looming mass mobilisation, it has been reported.
Documents seen by Bloomberg show that officials have been looking to open foreign bank accounts and move assets abroad, while encouraging loved ones to leave.
It is believed that Vladimir Putin plans to draft an additional 300,000 men into the army after the parliamentary elections, amid mounting losses on the frontline.
While the Russian president has previously denied such plans, Russians are taking no chances and leaving for neighbouring countries like Georgia.
Volodymyr Zelensky warned last month: “We believe it will not take place in the central cities. But I don’t think they will be able to hide it very well.”
Ukrainian intelligence said Russia plans to call up 300,000 men by the end of 2026 and another 300,000 in 2027.
Gergana.Krasteva18 September 2026 12:20