STORY: Kyiv residents said on Sunday (September 6) they wanted peace as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepared to visit the Ukrainian capital following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow a day earlier.

Retired army veteran Stepan Yermak said peace was urgently needed after years of war and mounting losses on the battlefield.

As the war entered its fifth year, some residents said they did not expect the diplomatic effort to bring peace, citing a lack of trust in Russia and in the U.S. envoys. Others said any deal would need to prevent future aggression.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday (September 4) that the U.S. had a fresh proposal aimed at ending the war but did not elaborate. Both sides have intensified long-range air strikes in recent weeks while the front lines remain largely static.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 6, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF GOLDEN GATES IN KYIV CITY CENTRE

2. BELL TOWER OF ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) RETIRED UKRAINIAN ARMY VETERAN, STEPAN YERMAK, SAYING:

"The issue can be solved in the blink of an eye. We want peace. I've fought myself, so I know what war is like. We need peace, because there's no other way."

4. PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) RETIRED UKRAINIAN ARMY VETERAN, STEPAN YERMAK, SAYING:

"There aren't many men left to fight. We need peace, only peace. After that, we'll figure out the rest."

6. VARIOUS OF MAN BUYING SUNFLOWERS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) CAFE WORKER, SVITLANA KURYLENKO, 19 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"We need an agreement that will never be broken. A non-aggression pact was violated before. Just leave Ukraine alone and let people live in peace."

8. PEOPLE WALKING ON SQUARE

9. LOGISTICS MANAGER, MONIKA ZABOKLICKA, WALKING HER DOG

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) LOGISTICS MANAGER, MONIKA ZABOKLICKA, SAYING:

"This is all in Ukrainians' hands. I hope Europe will continue to help, but I don't believe in the good intentions of the other side (Russia)."

11. ZABOKLICKA'S DOG

12. ZABOKLICKA WALKING HER DOG

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) TOURISM FIRM WORKER, NATALIIA HORDIIENKO, 41 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"There is hope, but critical thinking tells me nothing will come of it."

14. STREET LEADING TO UKRAINIAN SECURITY SERVICE BUILDING ATTACKED BY RUSSIAN DRONE TWO DAYS AGO BLOCKED OFF

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) KYIV RESIDENT, OLENA SAZONENKO, 60 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"There's still no trust in them. They don't behave very rationally, let's be honest. They're all over the place. So I have no hope."

16. NATIONAL OPERA

17. MONUMENT TO COMPOSER MYKOLA LYSENKO

18. STREET IN CENTRAL KYIV